Country football club premier predictions 2022: North Ballarat, Golden Square, Torquay
Country footy is back. We predict the premiers, top six teams and the best and fairest contenders for every league this season.
It is the topic dominating discussion across the state with the 2022 football season kicking off this weekend.
What club is going to win the flag? What club is going to make a charge up the ladder or take a tumble? And who could win the league best and fairest award?
The Weekly Times has come up with the answers for every league in Victoria and beyond, with these predictions for how the season will pan out.
BALLARAT
Premier: North Ballarat
Top six: Sebastopol, North Ballarat, Melton, East Point, Sunbury, Darley
On the up: Darley
On the slide: East Point
League B&F: Jonathan O’Brien, North Ballarat
BENDIGO
Premier: Golden Square
Top five: Strathfieldsaye, Golden Square, Gisborne, Sandhurst, Kyneton
On the up: Kyneton
On the slide: Eaglehawk
League B&F: Jake Thrum, Golden Square
BELLARINE
Premier: Torquay
Top five: Torquay, Barwon Heads, Modewarre, Drysdale, Ocean Grove
On the up: Drysdale
On the slide: Anglesea
League B&F: Tom Ruggles, Drysdale
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
Premier: Gordon
Top eight: Gordon, Rokewood-Corindhap, Skipton, Buninyong, Dunnstown, Hepburn, Springbank, Waubra
On the up: Skipton
On the slide: Hepburn
League B&F: Matthew Aikman, Rokewood-Corindhap
CENTRAL MURRAY
Premier: Cohuna
Top five: Cohuna, Kerang, Woorinen, Mallee Eagles, Tooleybuc-Manangatang
On the up: Tooleybuc-Manangatang
On the slide: Swan Hill
League B&F: Joel Helman, Cohuna
COLAC AND DISTRICT
Premier: Irrewarra-Beeac
Top five: South Colac, Irrewarra-Beeac, Alvie, Lorne, Simpson
On the up: Otway Districts
On the slide: Birregurra
League B&F: Josh Black, South Colac
EAST GIPPSLAND
Premier: Lindenow
Top four: Lindenow, Boisdale-Briagolong, Wy Yung, Lakes Entrance
On the up: Wy Yung
On the slide: Stratford
League B&F: Luke Dyer, Lindenow
ELLINBANK
Premier: Ellinbank
Top four: Ellinbank, Trafalgar, Buln Buln, Lang Lang
On the up: Lang Lang
On the slide: Poowong
League B&F: Kody Wilson, Neerim South
GEELONG
Premier: St Mary’s
Top five: St Mary’s, Colac, Bell Park, Grovedale, Newtown and Chilwell
On the up: Newtown and Chilwell
On the slide: St Joseph’s
League B&F: Harry Benson, St Mary’s
GEELONG AND DISTRICT
Premier: Inverleigh
Top five: Inverleigh, East Geelong, Werribee Centrals, Bell Post Hill, Bannockburn
On the up: East Geelong
On the slide: Geelong West Giants
League B&F: Tom Maas, East Geelong
GIPPSLAND
Premier: Wonthaggi
Top five: Wonthaggi, Leongatha, Sale, Moe, Traralgon
On the up: Traralgon
On the slide: Drouin
League B&F: Ryan Pendlebury, Sale
GOLDEN RIVERS
Premier: Nullawil
Top four: Nullawil, Moulamein, Quambatook, Macorna
On the up: Quambatook
On the slide: Wandella
League B&F: Matt Quigley, Nullawil
GOULBURN VALLEY
Premier: Echuca
Top six: Echuca, Seymour, Euroa, Rochester, Kyabram, Mansfield
On the up: Mansfield
On the slide: Benalla
League B&F: BJ Squire, Shepparton Swans
HAMPDEN
Premier: North Warrnambool
Top five: Koroit, North Warrnambool, South Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton
On the up: Hamilton
On the slide: Camperdown
League B&F: Tim McIntyre, Koroit
HEATHCOTE AND DISTRICT
Premier: Lockington-Bamawm United
Top five: Lockington-Bamawm United, Colbinabbin, Mt Pleasant, North Bendigo, White Hills
On the up: Mt Pleasant
On the slide: White Hills
League B&F: Adam Baird, Mt Pleasant
HORSHAM AND DISTRICT
Premier: Noradjuha-Quantong
Top six: Noradjuha-Quantong, Harrow-Balmoral, Rupanyup, Kalkee, Swifts, Edenhope-Apsley
On the up: Edenhope-Apsley
On the slide: Jeparit-Rainbow
League B&F: Michael Close, Harrow-Balmoral
KYABRAM AND DISTRICT
Premier: Stanhope
Top eight: Stanhope, Avenel, Murchison, Nagambie, Lancaster, Shepparton East, Dookie, Violet Town
On the up: Shepparton East
On the slide: Lancaster
League B&F: Tommy Davies, Lancaster
LODDON VALLEY
Premier: Marong
Top five: Marong, Mitiamo, Bridgewater, Pyramid Hill, Serpentine
On the up: Marong
On the slide: Maiden Gully-YCW
League B&F: Brandyn Grenfell, Marong
MARYBOROUGH-CASTLEMAINE
Premier: Natte-Bealiba
Top five: Natte-Bealiba, Carisbrook, Navarre, Harcourt, Trentham, Talbot, Lexton, Avoca
On the up: Navarre
On the slide: Maldon
League B&F: Ben Brewster, Natte Bealiba
MID GIPPSLAND
Premier: Morwell East
Top six: Morwell East, Fish Creek, Hill End, Mirboo North, Foster, Newborough
On the up: Boolarra
On the slide: Thorpdale
League B&F: Joel Soutar, Morwell East
MILLEWA
Premier: Bambill
Top four: Bambill, Werrimull, Nangiloc, Gol Gol
On the up: Werrimull
On the slide: Meringur
League B&F: Luke Stanbrook, Bambill
MININERA AND DISTRICT
Premier: Woorndoo-Mortlake
Top five: Woorndoo-Mortlake, Tatyoon, Ararat, Glen Thompson-Dunkeld, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac
On the up: Ararat
On the slide: Streatham-Mininera-Westmere Rovers
League B&F: Isaac Templeton, Woorndoo-Mortlake
MORNINGTON PENINSULA (Division One)
Premier: Frankston YCW
Top five: Frankston YCW, Bonbeach, Sorrento, Frankston Bombers, Mt Eliza
On the up: Sorrento
On the slide: Dromana
League B&F: Blake Mullane, Frankston YCW
MORNINGTON PENINSULA (Division Two)
Premier: Langwarrin
Top five: Langwarrin, Karingal, Devon Meadows, Rye, Mornington
On the up: Devon Meadows
On the slide: Mornington
League B&F: Joel Hillas, Devon Meadows
MURRAY
Premier: Tongala
Top six: Tongala, Cobram, Mulwala, Deniliquin, Congupna, Moama
On the up: Moama
On the slide: Nathalia
League B&F: Jimmy Boyer, Congupna
NORTH CENTRAL
Premier: Sea Lake-Nandaly
Top four: Sea Lake-Nandaly, Birchip, Donald, Wedderburn
On the up: Donald
On the slide: Charlton
League B&F: Wade Donnan, Sea Lake-Nandaly
NORTH GIPPSLAND
Premier: Yallourn Yallourn North
Top five: Yallourn Yallourn North, Woodside, Rosedale, Churchill, Yarram
On the up: Rosedale
On the slide: Traralgon Tyers United
League B&F: Jake Roe-Duggan, Churchill
OMEO AND DISTRICT
Premier: Lindenow South
Top four: Lindenow South, Swifts Creek, Buchan, Omeo-Benambra
On the up: Buchan
On the slide: Bruthen
League B&F: Jai Hayward, Omeo-Benambra
OUTER EAST (Premier)
Premier: Narre Warren
Top five: Narre Warren, Mt Evelyn, Pakenham, Officer, Monbulk
On the up: Mt Evelyn
On the slide: Olinda Ferny Creek
League B&F: Trent Cody, Narre Warren
OUTER EAST (Division One)
Premier: Seville
Top five: Seville, Emerald, Gembrook Cockatoo, Berwick Springs, Yarra Glen
On the up: Emerald
On the slide: Healesville
League B&F: Ben Ashton, Yarra Glen
OUTER EAST (Division Two)
Premier: Alexandra
Top five: Alexandra, Kinglake, Powelltown, Warburton Millgrove, Yarra Junction
On the up: Warburton Millgrove
On the slide: Powelltown
League B&F: Dean Galea, Alexandra
OVENS AND KING
Premier: Milawa
Top six: Milawa, Tarrawingee, Goorambat, Bright, Bonnie Doon, Benalla All Blacks
On the up: Goorambat
On the slide: Whorouly
League B&F: Ben Clarke, Milawa
OVENS AND MURRAY
Premier: Wangaratta
Top five: Wangaratta, Myrtleford, Albury, Yarrawonga, Wang Rovers
On the up: Yarrawonga
On the slide: Lavington
League B&F: Michael Gibbons, Yarrawonga
PICOLA AND DISTRICT
Premier: Strathmerton
Top eight: Strathmerton, Katamatite, Waaia, Tungamah, Katunga, Tocumal, Jerilderie, Katandra
On the up: Tocumwal
On the slide: Berrigan
League B&F: Sam Poole, Katamatite
RIDDELL AND DISTRICT
Premier: Wallan
Top five: Wallan, Diggers Rest, Macedon, Riddell, Romsey
On the up: Diggers Rest
On the slide: Woodend
League B&F: Matthew Goodyear, Macedon
SOUTH WEST
Premier: Dartmoor
Top five: Dartmoor, Coleraine, Cavendish, Tyrendarra, Westerns
On the up: Cavendish
On the slide: Branxholme-Wallacedale
League B&F: Leigh Ewing, Branxholme-Wallacedale
SUNRAYSIA
Premier: Imperials
Top four: Imperials, Irymple, Merbein, Ouyen United
On the up: Merbein
On the slide: Mildura
League B&F: Dan Coghlan, Irymple
TALLANGATTA AND DISTRICT
Premier: Chiltern
Top five: Chiltern, Kiewa-Sandy Creek, Yackandandah, Barnawartha, Dederang-Mt Beauty
On the up: Dederang-Mt Beauty
On the slide: Tallangatta
League B&F: Elliott Powell, Dederang-Mt Beauty
UPPER MURRAY
Premier: Bullioh
Top four: Bullioh, Tumbarumba, Cudgewa, Corryong
On the up: Tumbarumba
On the slide: Cudgewa
League B&F: Hunter Clayton, Tumbarumba
WARRNAMBOOL AND DISTRICT
Premier: Kolora-Noorat
Top five: Kolora-Noorat, Nirranda, Merrivale, Panmure, Russell’s Creek
On the up: Russells Creek
On the slide: Allansford
League B&F: Scott Carlin, Nirranda
WEST GIPPSLAND
Premier: Phillip Island
Top four: Phillip Island, Inverloch-Kongwak, Tooradin-Dalmore, Cora Lynn
On the up: Warragul Industrials
On the slide: Garfield
League B&F: Cam Pedersen, Phillip Island
WIMMERA
Premier: Dimboola
Top five: Dimboola, Minyip-Murtoa, Southern Mallee, Stawell, Ararat
On the up: Dimboola
On the slide: Horsham Saints
League B&F: Tom Eckel, Stawell
NSW
HUME
Premier: Holbrook
Top six: Holbrook, Osborne, Brock-Burrum, Coreen-Daysdale-Hopefield Buraja United, Rand-Walbundrie-Walla, Jindera
On the up: Jindera
On the slide: Lockhart
League B&F: Connor Galvin, Osborne
FARRER
Premier: East Wagga
Top five: East Wagga, North Wagga, The Rock, Marrar, Northern Jets
On the up: The Rock
On the slide: Marrar
League B&F: Zac Walgers, Marrar
RIVERINA
Premier: Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong
Top five: GGGM, Coolamon, Collingullie, Turvey Park, Wagga Tigers
On the up: Collingullie
On the slide: Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes
League B&F: Matt Hamblin, GGGM
NORTHERN RIVERINA
Premier: West Wyalong
Top four: West Wyalong, Lake Cargelligo, Hillston, Tullibigeal
On the up: West Wyalong
On the slide: Ungarie
League B&F: Bryce McPherson, Lake Cargelligo
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
KOWREE NARACOORTE TATIARA
Premier: Keith
Top five: Keith, Kingston, Mundulla, Bordertown, Naracoorte
On the up: Bordertown
On the slide: Padthaway
League B&F: Will McMurray, Keith
WESTERN BORDER
Premier: Millicent
Top four: Millicent, South Gambier, West Gambier, North Gambier
On the up: West Gambier
On the slide: East Gambier
League B&F: Tom Hutchesson, Millicent
Calder United historic first game venue locked in
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