Torquay add further class as the Tigers begin their title defence

The Bellarine Football League is set to kick off and we’ve got all the big ins and outs, the key players, the x-factors and the coaches’ appraisals on their respective pre-seasons.

Torquay captain Ben McNamara says Matt Boag has had a big impact on the squad already. Picture: Alan Barber

Footy’s back and already there’s been plenty happening in the Bellarine before a ball is bounced in anger for premiership points.

The reigning premiers have only enhanced their position as the competition’s benchmark with the return of reigning Newtown & Chilwell best and fairest winner Matt Boag, while Modewarre’s flag aspirations have taken a big hit with a season-ending knee injury to their co-captain, Tom Worpel, during a practice match against the Belmont Lions.

Meanwhile, Queenscliff will be hoping to put a forgettable 2023 – its senior coach departed before the final round – behind them with the return of five-time premiership mentor, Heath Jamieson.

Equally, Newcomb is coming off its first pre-season under Tony Mirabella – who took over after the mid-season departure of Mitch Troy – who is bullish about what his young brigade can achieve under new captain, 22-year-old Ryan Jackman.

The Ammos, however, will be brimming with ex-GFL talent – including the return of Blake Sutterby – and will surely be a challenger for a top five place.

So who will be the big improvers, can Drysdale bridge the gap this year after falling at the final hurdle and who will slide down the ladder?

Find out in our BFNL preview, with all the ins and outs, the key players, the X Factors and how each coach has marked their pre-seasons to this point

Torquay

Ins: Matt Boag, Luke Mahony, Reef Page

Outs: Ben Raidme (retired), Tom Burke

Captains: Ben McNamara, James Darke

Coach: Dom Gleeson

Key player: Baxter Mensch

X Factor: Nathan Mifsud

“We’ve had a pretty strong pre-season, we always have good numbers down at Torquay and this year’s been no exception.

“We’re getting a good amount on the track, we’ve had three pretty good hit outs against some quality opponents (St Mary’s, Colac and Bell Park).

Torquay’s Ben McNamara says his Tigers are well prepared to defend its BFNL title. Picture: Alan Barber

“We learned a lot from those games and seeing the elite of the GFL and how they operate.

“We feel that’s put us in pretty good stead this season to hit the ground running.

“Matty Boag has really had an impact coming here, Luke Mahony and then Reef Page up forward, really putting their hand up for Round 1.

“We’ve pretty much held the core group together.”

Ben McNamara

Drysdale

Ins: Cam Delaney, Tim Delaney, Flynn Chirgwin, Andrew Crosbie, Nick Aringo, Kyle Davis, Logan Hockley, Callan Wilson

Outs: Lauchlan Dalgleish, Sam Fleming, Ross Celano

Captain: Mitchell Mcguire

Coach: Ben Carmichael

Key player: Ben Fennell

X Factor: Jake Hargreaves

Drysdale coach Ben Carmichael is confident a grand final loss in 2023 will inspire his young players to go one better this year Picture: Alan Barber

“Just moments in games (cost us), in the end they took those moments in the last quarter,” Carmichael said of the Tigers’ 7.5 final term as Lucas Anderson and Nathan Mifsud ran riot.

“We probably had them exactly where we wanted them (at three quarter time), we just couldn’t finish it off.

“We had 10 kids, 21 or under, playing in that team, it would be a great experience for everyone involved.

“It’s another stepping stone for our group, we’ve got a really young list.”

Ben Carmichael

Barwon Heads

Ins: Reid Adams, Sam Witherden, Matt Ogle, Ethan Lawler, Sam Hill

Outs: Ned Aulsebrook, Conor McKinnon, Bradley Michell, Logan Mitchell, Oli Wiltshire, Jayden McLauchlan

Captain: Lachlan Wilson, Kyle Polley

Coach: Sam Schaller, Mitch Herbison

Key player: Luke Davis

X Factor: Lachie Wilson

Sam Schaller coaches his Seagulls against Drysdale in the 2023 preliminary final. Picture: Alan Barber

“I’m excited ... the fire has returned for a lot of the guys.

“We’ve got the attitude of hunting again, guys have returned in some really good shape.

“It’s the fittest and the strongest I’ve seen in our group for a long time ... the determination’s definitely there.”

Sam Schaller

Ocean Grove

Ins: Nick Bourke, Joel Dillon, Ryan Humphries, Harry Cashin, Sean McKenzie

Outs: Joe McDonald

Captain: TBC

Coach: Dave Farrell, Nick Bourke

Key player: Ed Dayman

X Factor: Connor Asquith

Leopold’s Jordan Thompson celebrates with Connor Asquith in last year’s reserves grand final. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Player retention has been sensational. It’s really, really exciting for the club.

“The buy-in (has been great), it can be a long process, the pre-season. Starting earlier and earlier.

“Right from the get-go it’s been sensational and it should hold us in good stead for Round 1.

“All systems go for Round 1, we should be pretty well at full health which is ideal at this stage of the year.”

Nick Bourke

Queenscliff

Ins: Kyle Hartigan, Jai McGough, Lachie McKane, Jonas Seecamp, Michael Randone, Max Scott

Captain: Caleb Whitley

Coach: Heath Jamieson

Key player: Lachie Kidd

X Factor: Will Baker

St Joseph's premiership coach Heath Jamieson (left) has returned to Queenscliff. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“We’re pretty close to a full complement for Round 1, our pre-season has been really good.

“Our boys have been super.

“We played (Modewarre) up there who were pretty stacked, and we probably weren’t too stacked that night and had a good win against them.

“We played Camperdown in Camperdown on the weekend who made finals in the Hampden league and we beat them.

“I’m pretty excited for what we can do .... it’s all about producing it week in and week out, with a young list.

“That’s my only fear, whether they can play that way all year.

“I’ll say we’ve got a floor but we haven’t got a ceiling. We want to improve on last year’s result.

“We’ve got enough talent on the field to do something this year. Our best could surprise quite a few.”

Heath Jamieson

Geelong Amateur

Ins: Tom Gribble, Blake Sutterby, Harrison Orr, Patrick Dowling

Outs: Brydon Barnett, Chris Kangars, Josh Grabowski

Captain: Harry Kershaw, Liam Cogan

Coach: Dan Holroyd, Riley Kershaw

Key player: Tom Gribble

X Factor: Patrick Dowling

St Mary's star Patrick Dowling is congratulated by teammate Doug Bond after a goal in 2023. Picture: Mark Wilson

“It’s been a good pre-season, we’re a bit more organised this year, we’ve had no interruptions.

“We’ve had full access to our ground, which we haven’t had the past few years.

“We’re really happy with where we’re at, we’ve had a few good practice matches.

“We’re aiming to be fully in the finals picture this season, we’re not looking to just scrape in.

“We were pretty disappointed with how things worked out last year.”

Dan Holroyd

Modewarre

Ins: Scott Morter, Ryan Williams, Josh Hovey, Matt Farrelly, Lachie Warburton

Outs: Darby Schilder, Troy Anderson, Tom Bartlett

Captains: Tom Worpel, Morgan Fenton

Coach: Mark Hovey

Key player: Tom Hornsey

X Factor: Josh Hovey

Modewarre’s Tom Hornsey was a co-coach of the Warriors in 2023. Picture: Alan Barber

“Clearly Torquay is the standout but would be hoping we are in the next group with Drysdale, Barwon Heads and others.

“We will look a bit different to last year, definitely fitter and quicker.

“Tom ruptured his ACL (on March 22) in a practice match but he will still be joint captain.”

Mark Hovey

Anglesea

Ins: Tom Couch, Jacob Agostino, Dylan Featon, Courtney Weatherburn, Mitch Johnson, Anton Woods, Nick Swain

Outs: Daniel Midolo, Darcy Elliott

Captain: James Carr

Coach: Jordan Keras

Key player: Mitch Johnson

X Factor: Dylan Pettingill

Anglesea playing coach Jordan Keras said his squad was decimated by injury in 2023. Picture: Mark Wilson

“I’m happy with the quality of players we’ve recruited.

“And the quality of the youth coming through.

“I think with a healthy list, we’ll make it hard for teams to beat us.

“We were patched up a fair bit (last year).

“We had a list the length of the Flemington straight in the finals.

“I’m hoping for some luck at the right time of the year.”

Portarlington

Ins: Connor Menadue, Jaryd Cachia, James Goetz, Brayden Poole, Teia Miles, Steve Heppell, Jack Baldi, Harry Sedgeman

Outs: Tyler Cummins

Captain: Stephen Walton, Mitch Turnbull

Coach: Warren Finlayson.

Key player: Mitchell Turnbull

X Factor: Teia Miles

Portarlington’s leadership group of Shane Wiffen, Kelly Packard, Teia Miles, Stephen Walton, Mitch Turnbull, Max Ruiter and Nathan Piggot, Picture: Brad Fleet

“We’ve put our best foot forward to try and compete this year.

“We’ve just got to put it all together now in games.

“If we play our best footy like we have in our practice games, there’s no reason why we can’t come out and win a few games.”

Teia Miles

Newcomb

Ins: Damien Horbury, Josh Saltalamacchia, Jarrod Stafford, Josh Taylor, Finn Anscombe, Beau Adams

Outs: Bray Cullinan, Elliott Taylor

Captain: Ryan Jackman

Coach: Tony Mirabella

Key player: Jarrad Duncan, Thewin Robertson

X Factor: Jack Duke

Ryan Jackman was endorsed as captain by his Newcomb teammates.

“The fact we’ve been able to retain 95 per cent of the list, probably says a lot about the position the club’s in.

“We don’t have the ex-AFL, VFL superstars on our list but we’ve got very talented young players who have got a huge amount of potential and growth to come.

“It’s about giving them that time to develop and surround them with good people with good knowledge and consolidating everything we worked on in the back half of last season.

“We know this isn’t just a one year journey for us, this is probably a three to four-year journey.”

Tony Mirabella

Originally published as Torquay add further class as the Tigers begin their title defence