All set for the big bounce

As the new season gets under way, PAUL PICKERING previews the remaining teams in the YVMDFL, in the second of a two-part series.
SILVAN

THE Bomber invasion has continued at Silvan over the off-season, with ex-Essendon players Aaron Henneman, Marc Bullen and Ben Haynes joining assistant coach and dual-B&F winner Gary Moorcroft at the Cats.
General manager Charlie Caputo expects Henneman to impose his will upon the competition immediately in a ruck/key-position role.
Caputo says a ramped-up pre-season program will place his young team in good stead for round one.
“There’s always talk about the new recruits, but we’ve got a big group of 12-14 guys under 21 who have all really stepped up over the pre-season, and I expect them all to play senior footy this year,” he said.
The young legs were put to the test on a recent pre-season camp in Anglesea, where running sessions were scheduled amid canoe paddling and a tilt at the camp’s high ropes course.
One of the good news stories of the summer has been the return of Chris Goodlet after a knee reconstruction last year – word is he is flying.
After finishing fifth in 2006, and struggling against the competition’s elite teams, Silvan is looking to get back to being competitive with the division one benchmarks in 2007.

WANDIN

WANDIN’S playing list has been decimated by soft tissue injury over the summer, forcing club administrators to reassess training procedures in the lead-up to Saturday’s blockbuster season-opener against Woori.

While the drought conditions seem to have taken their toll on the legs of the Wandin boys, football manager Darby Munro is confident a full-strength side can compete with the league’s best.
Key inclusions for the 2007 campaign will be ex-Vermont rover Sam Hills, ruckman Nigel Jarvis, from Bayswater, and forwards Tim Eastham and Brad Foletta.
There is also a real buzz surrounding Jye Meyers’ return from the Eastern Ranges and the form of ex-Croydon midfielder Nathan Cass.
Of the latter, Munro said: “He’s a terrific young player and we’re looking for big things from him this year.”
Another player to catch Munro’s eye has been returning veteran Paul Rouget.
“He’s looking a million dollars,” Munro said. “He’s absolutely flying.”
Having finished sixth in the past two years, the Dogs will be hoping an exciting mix of youth and experience will vault them into finals footy in ’07.

BELGRAVE

BELGRAVE’S key acquisition of the summer has been that of senior coach Gary Connelly, who joins the club after guiding Parkmore to a flag in the Southern League last year.
Connelly’s extensive credentials include an AFL recruiting role for Brisbane at the height of the Lions dynasty.
Life member Greg Ison has put his hand up to take the reins as playing-coach of the reserves, while Barry Meyer will again lead the U18s.
The introduction of Connelly has helped Belgrave to secure the services of several of his Parkmore premiership players, including on-ballers Andrew McArthur, Huan Nguyen and Damian Armanison.
The Magpies have also been boosted by the return of Mark Francis, Sean Osbourne, Joel O’Donohue and Marcus Stow.
After suffering relegation last year, Belgrave will be hoping an enthusiastic crew of under 18 graduates will take them deep into September action.
President Rob Morris suggested that young ruckman Brad Raaymakers would be among the young guns likely to secure a regular spot in the ones this year.

GEMBROOK-COCKATOO

AFTER consolidating its position in division one last year, the Brookers will be hoping a developing young brigade will thrust them towards September action in 2007.
Damian Rhind will take the helm as playing-coach after cutting his teeth as an assistant at Neerim South over the past two years.
His squad has had the added benefit of access to its ground throughout the summer, and is hoping to take advantage of the extra ball-work come round one.
Co-president Stephen Goodie has been impressed by the enthusiasm of the Brooker youth, with Todd Pye, Phil Muratore, Grainger Hardridge, Andrew Walker, Joel Sergeant and Rick Causer among the pre-season bolters.
The playing list will also be bolstered by the arrival of Rick Francis from Norwood and Bill Harvey from Ellinbank.

YARRA GLEN

YARRA GLEN will be the new home of YVMDFL stalwart Andy Goodwin this year.
Goodwin, whose exploits at Wandin are the stuff of country footy legend, will return to the league after a coaching stint at Mooroolbark.
President Mark Mays said the ex-Melbourne and Richmond utility will be an invaluable addition in 2007.
“He adds so much experience and toughness, and we’re so happy to have him on board.”
Goodwin will be a vital resource to new senior coach Shayne Kaal, who has honed his coaching skills in Western Australia — and more recently as an assistant at Croydon.
Kaal’s pre-season program has been hampered by drought conditions, with Yarra Glen joining Mount Evelyn as the only teams still to be granted permission to use their grounds.
Mays admits that the preparation has been far from ideal, but he is hopeful that better times are just around the corner.
“It’s been disappointing that the shire hasn’t come to the party and organised another ground for us, but hopefully in six weeks it’s all a memory,” he said.
Among the players excelling in the summer track-work have been recruits Ethan Shaw, from Wandin, and Greg Newlands, ex-Mooroolbark.
The coaching staff has also been buoyed by the solid pre-season of the injury-riddled Peter Moat.
Mays, however, notes that the real improvement is likely to come from an emerging contingent of young guns.

OLINDA-FERNY CREEK

AFTER a disappointing season last year, Olinda-Ferny Creek has revamped its game plan to take advantage of its emerging mosquito fleet in 2007.
Football manager Gerard Credlin said: “We’ve been working on a new style of play and we’ll be looking to be much more of a running side this year.”
Senior coach Steven Longham will be assisted throughout the year by new reserves coach Matt Grant, who has joined the club from Forest Hill.
The name ‘Scott’ will be notably absent from Longham’s magnet board this season, as Olinda-Ferny Creek farewells club legends Michael and Tim Scott.
“We wish them both all the best in retirement,” Credlin said.
Otherwise, the playing list has been quite stable over the summer, with improvement expected to come from within the U18 ranks.
Off the field, Olinda-Ferny Creek will be launching a new coterie group at Marybrooke on Sunday, 15 April. The group will be entrusted with coordinating fundraising efforts throughout the year.

MOUNT EVELYN

IT HAS been a frustrating off-season for Mount Evelyn, who, like Yarra Glen, are still grappling with shire-enforced ground restrictions.
Geoff Wighton, who has made the jump from reserves to senior coach, said he has been slightly bemused by the shire’s assessment of the ground.
“I can’t understand why we’ve been singled out, the ground doesn’t look too bad,” he said.
Despite the difficulties posed by the drought, Wighton says his squad has had a solid workout over the summer.
Among the notable inclusions for 2007 will be ex-Scoresby utility Peter Francis.

POWELLTOWN

THE good news story of the off-season has been Powelltown’s return to the league after failing to field a team in 2006.
President Doug Cole last week proudly announced that the club would field seniors, reserves and U18s this year. He admits it has been a tough road back.
“To come back from nothing to field three sides is a big ask,” he said. “We’ve re-built the club from scratch, it has been a monumental task for all concerned.”
A key component of the Powelltown resurrection has been the acquisition of former North Melbourne star Phil Krakouer as senior coach.
As part of the Phil Krakouer Opportunity Program, Powelltown will host four young indigenous players from outback Western Australia.
The club has also recruited well from throughout the YVMDFL. Despite its pre-season of uncertainty, the playing list has managed to put the necessary kilometres into the legs over the summer.
Reflecting on the stressful period the club has faced, Cole admits it will be a huge relief when the boys run out on April 21.

YARRA JUNCTION

AFTER finishing third last season with a 12-6 home-and-away record, Yarra Junction will accept nothing less than a grand final appearance in 2007.
President Paul Herman said that while the pre-season had been interrupted by ground restrictions, his team had managed to build an even fitness base.
Among Yarra Junction’s off-season acquisitions have been Shahin Acje from Warburton-Millgrove and Lucas Hoorn from Olinda-Ferny Creek.
A number of younger players elevated from the U18 ranks are expected to make their senior debuts at home against South Belgrave this weekend.