Tara Murray and Liam Twomey take a look at the 2015 Riddell District Football League contenders.
Broadford
Coach: Aaron Bray
Last year: Ninth
Who’s in: Simon Hicks (Murray Football League), Adrian Romanyk (Aberfieldie), John Barker (Sunbury Kangaroos), David Cacumo (Romsey)
Who’s out: Dalton Brereton, Christopher Dunne
“I think we just need a bit more consistency against the top sides. We haven’t really come close to those top sides over the last two seasons that I’ve coached. They are the games you need to win.” – Aaron Bray
Diggers Rest
Coach: Shaun Sims
Last year: Runner-up
Who’s in: Jamie Lobb (EDFL), Dean Smith (Greenvale), Jamerson Campbell (Sunbury Kangaroos)
Who’s out: Matthew Krul, Callum Wilson
“We’re more interested in focusing on how we can improve, how we can learn from the things we did well last year and the things we probably didn’t.” – Shaun Sims
Kilmore
Coaches: Travis McCarty and David Wightman
Last year: 13th
Who’s in: Harley Tirpkos (Lancefield), Matthew Traynor (Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League), Darcy Bedggood (Riddell)
Who’s out: Glenn Smith, Luke Simpson
“We are really excited to be working with the young talent at the club. We have earmarked those young guys that can run and carry the footy.” – David Wightman
Lancefield
Coach: Ash Manning (new)
Last year: seventh
Who’s in: Ben Anderson (Northern FL), Aaron Andrews (Woodend-Hesket), Jonathan Kent, Adam Sayers, Callum Strugnell, Chris Barton, Scott Condon and Conor Barton (Tullamarine), Scott Lambert (SFL), Brett Pitts (Ballarat FL), Blair Trevaskis (Jacana), Drew Trevaskis (Jacana)
Who’s out: Chris Burkett, Matthew Burkett, Scott Woolcook, Cameron Armstrong, Brendan James, Harley Tirpkos
“It hasn’t been an ideal off-season with the town’s three cricket sides making the grand finals. There are eight to 10 players I haven’t seen. We need to get the new recruits used to how the local guys play.” – Ash Manning
Macedon
Coach: Jeff Andrews
Last year: 11th
Who’s in: Marcus Kenny (Airport West), James Ferry (Greenvale/Essendon VFL), Shaun Harrison (Deer Park), Teghan Henderson (St Albans), Jason Cooke (EDFL), Damian Fitzpatrick (WRFL), Josh Eastley (Woodend-Hesket), Aaron Christensen (Ballarat FL), Aaron Blade (Riddell), Alistair Collins (EDFL), Hayden Doricic (Bendigo FL), Josh Crawford (EDFL), Lee Harrison (WRFL), Decklan Singles Jessop (East Sunbury)
Who’s out: Ashley Fleming, Josh Krispyn, Daryl Webb, George Hillary
“We have been fortunate enough to sign all the new guys early. We want to be competitive, but everyone who finished above us seems to have improved their lists, too.” – Jeff Andrews
Melton Centrals
Coach: Glenn Hopkins (new)
Last year: 10th
Who’s in: Peter Corredig (Warrnambool), Liam Toohey (La Trobe University), Shane Long (Deer Park), Rex Hickman (BFL)
Who’s out: Adam Fenton, Shannon Dean
“We’re just trying to develop and grow these kids as much as we can and make it so that they want to stay at our football club and keep learning. We are patient and that’s the way we have got to be.” – Glenn Hopkins
Sunbury Kangaroos
Coach: Chris Meacham (returning after interrupted 2014)
Last year: fifth
Who’s in: Simon Clarke (Doutta Stars), Matthew Sullivan (Melton South), Jordan Baumgarnter (Rockbank), Adam Fenton (Melton Centrals), Ryan Hatty, Jay Cheep (Doutta Stars), Jackson Cheep (Ballarat FL), James Atkins (EDFL), Matthew Baird (Ballarat FL), Robbie Lynch (Rockbank), Cameron Joinbee (Picola and District FL)
Who’s out: John Baker, Jamerson Campbell, Robert Johnson, Jason King, Ryan Pretty
“We have a really hard draw, facing all the other teams from last year’s top seven twice … it will be a good experience. If you aren’t finishing the season in the top three of the RDFL you are kicking yourself.” – Chris Meacham.
Riddell
Coach: Troy Scoble
Last year: third
Who’s in: Jason Allan (CHFL), Jarryd Allan (CHFL), Ben Peters (Ballarat FL), Damian Ash (VAFA), Jack Baker (Bendigo FL), Troy Bird (Ballarat FL), Paul McNamara (Melton Centrals), Jordan Prime (Macedon), Connor Spratt (Ballarat FL)
Who’s out: Matt Sammut, Anthony Sammut, Tim Hill, Kane North, Stephen Long, Joel Morrison, Michael Sahlberg, Zane Williams, David Bruno, Lachlan Crosbie, Harrison Taylor, Jordan Taylor
“The Bombers have been active in the recruitment area with several new recruits signing on. Key players to look out for include Jason and Jarryd Allen, who return to the Bombers and join their brother Brayden, Jack Baker from Gisborne, Ben Peters from Melton South. Paul Sahlberg and Ethan Foreman are both exciting young players.” – vice-president Gerrard Nolan
Rockbank
Coach: Gavin Sporle (new)
Last year: Sixth
Who’s in: Rodney Rich (BFL), Dean Van Heemst (BFL), Jack Sims (WRFL), Robert Johnson (Sunbury Kangaroos)
Who’s out: Jordan Baumgartner, Jamie Zerafa, Bryce Hall
“We’re comfortable the guys who have come in will fill the roles we need them to fill. One thing I want to do is remove the reliance on individuals. I want everyone playing a role. That’s what we have really focused on over the pre-season and the players have embraced that.” – Gavin Sporle
Romsey
Coach: Dean Helmers
Last year: Premier
Who’s in: Cameron Wight (Greenvale), Matthew Burkett, Chris Burkett (Lancefield), Zac Saad (Coburg), Luke Edmonson (Kyneton), James Carroll (Heathcote DFL), Kurt Henderson (NFL), Gohar Saad, Matt Stevens (EDFL), Ben Sullivan (Bendigo FL), Jason Feltham, Brayden Feltham (Ballarat FL)
Who’s out: David Cacumo, Travis Mills, Matthew Davidson, Danny Harrison, Luke Ryan, Shaun Austin, Mitchell Brewer, Ashley McNaughton, Angus Storey, Cameron Streeter, Anthony Trigg
“We have lost a bit of depth, but the quality of players we have picked up has been good. The main aim is to win the premiership. The first thing is to ensure we are competitive.” – president Wayne Milburn
Rupertswood
Coach: Ben Jordan
Last year: fourth
Who’s out: Tom Donoghue
“The guys are getting better drilled on the game-plan than last year and most of the blokes have been around for a while so they have no excuses. There has been some movement of under-18 players stepping up into the seniors.” – Ben Jordan
Wallan
Coach: Trevor Frost
Last year: Eighth
Who’s in: Lachlan Harrison (Northern Football League), Ricky Schraven (Essendon District Football League)
Who’s out: Justin Colliss
Woodend-Hesket
Coach: Ross Sleight (new)
Last year: 12th
Who’s in: Ross Sleight (Doutta Stars), Josh Styles, Scott Nettleton (Sunbury Lions), Jesse Waters, Jay Downing (Carngham Linton), Jarrod Arnold (Gisborne), James Chettle (Navare), Dale Cuinik (Sunbury Lions), Carl Rodger (North Claire), Ben Owen (Woodend), Hamish Govan (Gisborne), Danny Harrison (Romsey), Thomas O’Loughlin (Heathcote), Matthew Wood (Bendigo)
Who’s out: Josh Eastley, Darcy Kelly, Taylor Kelly,
“I thought if I could get a couple of players back we could slowly rebuild. We have 13 or 14 former players coming back and four or five who haven’t been here before. Finals footy is a long way down the track but … we should win more than the past few years.” – Ross Sleight
