Country Footy News

[Dogwatcher]

Tuesday, 16 January 2007


Pre-season rumours fly


By Leslie Pearson
With the start of the 2007 Whyalla football season still a while off, talk has bubbled forth about the signing and leaving various clubs have made to their senior list.


All clubs have made some exciting recruits for 2007, so questions are lingering as to who will be the top of the pack come September 2007.

Central Whyalla


Multi-premiership winning coach Ken Burton will again lead Central Whyalla, despite rumours surfacing of his retirement come the end of 2006.


"You can never say never," Burton said.


Training will begin on Tuesday, January 16, a few new faces replacing those lost from last year's premiership squad.


Biggest of the losses is star midfielder Daniel Sims, heading off to Roxby Downs, as well as the unknown future of Jarrod McKenzie.


Into Central's list comes 26-year-old ruckman/forward Heath Puhl of Mount Lofty, while Central retain veterans George Kite and Peter Carter.


Goal kicking star Scott Collison is to return for the Roosters to the best of Burton's knowledge.


Young star Dwayne Colson will also remain in town, talks of him moving closer to the SANFL put on hold for at least another year or so.


Bigger things are expected this season of former North Whyalla player Michael Geddes.


"I'd like him to step up this year and take a more senior role in the team," Burton said.


Meanwhile, ruck legend Adam Latemore takes the new role of reserves coach, while Steve Baulderstone will be looking after the under 17s.

Roopena


Roopena are looking at a long time between drinks when the 2007 season begins, marking 10 years since their last A grade premiership in Whyalla Football League.


Bevan Kelly returns as coach and is looking positively towards going the extra step in 2007 and winning his maiden premiership as coach of the A grade.


Leaving the club from last year's main squad include Whyalla News medallist Ray McIntosh, looking to further his football career in Robe.


Uncertain clouds linger over Dean Storic, Guy Sultan and Des Dueter, time will only tell if they return.


Utility Mark Phillips has also vacated along with Cole Sims, Roopena's height department suddenly opening up some vacancies.


Returning for 2007 after a crippling knee injury is ruckman Justin Grund, while Chris Dawson has also been under the knife in the off-season, looking to return mid season.


Coming into Roopena's ranks is the brilliant defender/midfielder Adam Spurling from West Whyalla, with Mallee Park bustling big man Jason Rae also coming into the fold.


Another Westie heading across to Roopena is clean handed midfielder Damien Morgan.


South Clare's Matt Manfield will step into a massive leadership role, the brother of West Whyalla champion Anthony a strong mid fielder determined to take the side to the top.


Kelly's aspirations for the season mark the similar vein of thought the coaches are in.


"I'd certainly expect to be playing in the finals for sure," he said.


Training began on Tuesday, January 9 at Roopena, and will continue on Tuesday and Thursday for the remainder of the season.

Weeroona Bay


The Bays look to be the big movers for 2007, opting to hit the track some six weeks back, before official training began on Tuesday, January 9 and each Tuesday after.


New coach Troy Taylor has been part of the Bays' coaching fray for the past few years, taking the reserves, under 15s and the role as assistant coach of the A grade last year.


His first time in the senior role at the top, Taylor holds a strong outlook for the coming season.


"It's something I'm really looking forward to," he said.


Taylor reported more than 40 different players hitting the track late last year, a massive improvement on the squad of seasons gone by.


Recruiting news includes the signing of tough forward Waylon Hornhardt, the former Cowell and Cleve player filling the hole left by the retirement of Weeroona Bay legend Miles Carrigan, who will begin his role as skills coach this year.


Lost traveller and former West Whyalla captain Tristan Watt is still in football club limbo, the Bays feeling positive about how talks are going.


Bradley Amos will front up for South Augusta, the Bays missing out on his services.


Jonathon Kroll returns to Whyalla, lining up for the Tigers while midfielder Dave Eckert steps into the squad after vacating Rostrevor.


Richard green will miss until round 13 with his lengthy suspension, while big man Travis Smith is also in talks with the club.


Aaron Azabland from Waikerie makes the trek across, while Richard Coyne has recovered from nagging injury to look fit and ready to lead the side this year.


After a lengthy absence, Steven Melville returns from Port Adelaide and joins the younger ranks of Mickey Jaritz and Anthony Malcolm who will be playing more consistent senior football this season.

North Whyalla


Little, if anything has been heard of North Whyalla over the summer and after last year's giant hopes crumpled due to injury and unavailability, it is understandable why.


But the North Whyalla folk are never out of the race for the finals, and Joe Frusch leads the side's hopes again in 2007, his hopes resting on a fit and available squad.


North recruit news looks reasonable, starting with former West Whyalla player Jason Hage stepping into the fray.


Returning from a stint in the Port Adelaide reserves is young midfielder Chad Clothier, strengthening the younger ranks of the squad.


Adelaide 27-year-old utility Aaron Reschki will also pull on the black and white this year, his older brother playing for North in recent times also.


Leaving the club is forward Paul Chapman, heading to Adelaide, while legend defender Des Harding's future is uncertain.


Also a decent blow to North hopes is the uncertain future of slinky utility Chris Beaty.


Beaty has been linked to Eastern Eyre side Cleve for a transfer, the young gun expected to make the move sooner than at first thought.


After a "pretty disappointing" 2006 season, Frusch still believes the Magpies can improve on their finish from last year.


Darryl Preiss enters the North coaching scene once more, and after coaching every grade at the club, his experience in undeniably valuable.


North have also re-shuffled their club board, with new representatives filling nearly all positions.

West Whyalla


Weeroona Bay champion Russell Sawford takes over from Chris Watt as West Whyalla A grade coach for 2007.


Assisting him will be experienced Weeroona Bay campaigner Mark Burk, with training to begin the first week of February.


Sawford played senior football last year in the Spencer Gulf League, and now at 40 years of age, said he will do the preseason and consider if he plays or not closer to the start of round one.


The midfield workhorse would be a welcome addition to the depleted West Whyalla ranks, with some 10 or so senior players missing from last year's list.


Leaving the club are versatile forward Brett McKerlie, midfielder Matt Turner, defenders Adam Spurling and Adrian Geppe and utilities Des, Tyrone and Kevin Taylor.


Sawford indicated there could well be more to add to that list.


Last year's captain Tristan Watt has also departed, Sawford hopeful but concedes it is unlikely he will return to the dragons this season.


There is some saving grace however, Perth boys Nick Willis and Mick Smith re-signing for 2007, as has hardy midfielder Leigh Symons.


Young up and comer Blake Symons has also been linked with a swap to Roos, but West appear to have also retained many of their talented younger squad to fill the holes left by vacating players.


Recruits aren't the biggest issue in 2007 for Sawford, his positive approach to a depleted squad is admirable, looking to the youth of the club to step up.


"A majority of my focus is on the juniors at the club," Sawford said.


He saw his first season as a challenge, and after nine years at the helm of Weeroona Bay, Sawford will take all his coaching and playing experience to West to rejuvenate the team.


Sawford said his main aim is to make Westies not just a strong club now, but a force for years to come.

South Whyalla


South, last year's wooden spooners, showed great signs of improvement towards the end of the season, and despite going through the 2006 season without a win, the experience their younger squad would have gained is nearly invaluable.


Grant Sleep remains at the top of the A grade, with a young squad at his disposal.


"We're hoping to be more competitive than last year," Sleep said.


"There's a good vibe down the club, it's the best I've seen it."


The average age of the squad would be interesting to note, especially with veterans and league legends Splint Cowan and Nigel Rattley retiring.


The two former stars are the only notable players released from South's senior squad, recruiting efforts so far also showing promise.


Sleep said that tall utility Mark Phillips will don the Demon's guernsey this year, joining him is fellow former Roopena teammate Cole Sims, the lanky forward adding to South's height, something they were severely missing in seasons gone by.


An extra ruckman would take so much of the workload off of the talented talls at South.


"That's basically what I'm trying to do is free up Scharenberg, Beaton and Phillips," he said.


But not to be disheartened, Sleep holds great faith in his well-blooded juniors at league level.


"Players like Steven Barford, Chad Smith, Nathan Danzic and Matt King have played big roles and done a good job," Sleep said.


"I'd expect those boys to step up this year."


The much-anticipated return of dynamic midfielder Aran Freeth from a debilitating knee injury will also be a key component to South Whyalla's centre line.


In other key news around the club, Splint Cowan and Scott Leverington have also been named as the under 17s coaches this year.

[carey]

yes down and out very interested in peake with 4 others but no medal winners between us i'v come runner up 3 years in a row and the highest i'v played was div 3 then over on the york thats about it mate for senior footy .

[Down&Out]

peake always happy to have blokes go down and play- usually good road trips a lot of pubs on the way back from Murrayville. 3 or 4 guys makes a huge difference in a comp like that

[carey]

are you from that leauge at all down and out ? i hear there are some good footballers running around up there ?

[Down&Out]

Used to play down that way as a kid- still keep in contact through mates playing around the league. Copmpetition has been pretty good. I think in recent carnivals have had the wood over the Riverland. Top quality very good but probably lacks depth of some other leagues

[Dogwatcher]

D&O - they've done well against Riverland in recent years.
Beat them two seasons ago in Berri.
Last season was a close game - but Riverland got up (I think I'm right ) with a young side.
The Riverland seems to have problems committing its stars to play.

[Brad]

Just heard that Crystal brook in NOrthern Areas have lost a few players including:
Craig Young - Lobethal, Matt Gale - Lions,Chris Harvey - Lions, JOsh Gale - Sollies, Daniel Hastings - Sollies.