Sport
12 April, 2024
First bite Bulldogs the tip
WITH the biggest influx of new players in years - big names and all - Loddon Valley football kicks off on Saturday for a season where top five spots will be more tightly contested. Pyramid Hill has been the barometer, the yardstick, the consistent...
WITH the biggest influx of new players in years - big names and all - Loddon Valley football kicks off on Saturday for a season where top five spots will be more tightly contested.
Pyramid Hill has been the barometer, the yardstick, the consistent of the league for more than a decade, always there but overshadowed on the big day.
The Bulldogs get their chance for a good start to another season under the considered coaching of Nathan Fitzpatrick.
His club again has depth and that will be on show in the opening round against last year’s preliminary final opponent Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
The Bears have had a change of coach. Jake Wilkinson makes his debut with the clipboard, former coach Justin Laird freed of responsbilities to make his presence more felt around the ground.
They had a hitout against Marcorna on Saturday. Occasional showers made for slippery going at Serpentine yet once the Bears had sussed their opposition, the pre-determined systems advocated by Wilkinson found momentum.
The Bears were 52 points behind Pyramid Hill in the 2023 preliminary final. The Bulldogs showed three weeks ago in a practice match against Boort that they will be up to the task again this season.
Pyramid Hill won each home and away encounter by around a goal. Expect Saturday’s clash to be no different.
For the winner, early confidence, if an unlucky loser, greater incentive to match it with other teams.
Marong has retained some of its 2022-2023 potency - such has been the depth at Malone Park. While without century goalkicker Brayden Grenfell, the Panthers will still be too good for an improving Mitiamo.
The Superoos have created a much more positive vibe, have greater numbers and have been on the training track longer than last year when they came back from the brink.
However, Marong and dual-premiership coach Linton Jacobs will have too much firepower for Mitiamo.
Calivil missed out on its allocation of lady luck last season. So many games lost by a goal or less, results that if they had gone the other way, would have seen the Demons in contention for a finals spot.
They’re young and eager. With Anthony Dennis again the helm, the Demons will more than niggle opponents. On Saturday, they face Maiden Gully which has recruited well despite off-season turmoil around the club’s junior team plans,
The final opening round encounter has big recruiters Bridgewater hosting Newbridge. The Mean Machine will test the capabilities of Newbridge’s recruits.
Inglewood has another week before hitting the field, drawing the first round bye.