By David Nagel
Four teams that played finals football in 2022 are set to lock horns in a bumper round-one Easter Saturday edition of the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC).
Last year’s defeated grand finalists, Phillip Island, roll out the welcome mat for Warragul Industrials, in the first clash between the clubs since their epic preliminary final from last year.
Scores were tied at the final siren, and after two periods of extra time, before the Bulldogs squeezed through to the big dance in the most dramatic style possible.
It ended a dream finals campaign for the Dusties, who finished sixth before conquering Inverloch-Kongwak (Elimination) and Cora Lynn (Semi) to make it through to the penultimate game of the season.
Harmit Singh once again takes the reins at the Dusties, while the pre-eminent player in the WGFNC of the last five years – Cam Pederson – takes over the plum job at Phillip Island from master-coach Beau Vernon.
Will the Dusties stand up once again, or will the Bulldogs take the first step towards regaining their crown?
The other match up on Saturday takes place at the Inverloch Recreation Reserve where the Sea Eagles will welcome Nar Nar Goon to their fortress.
These two teams were the real disappointments of the 2022 finals series – both going in as elimination final favourites but being bundled out in week one.
The Sea Eagles were the first victim of an inspired Dusties line-up, while the Goons’ big guns failed to deliver against Cora Lynn.
It sets up an intriguing first game for the season for both clubs.
After a turbulent 2022, the Goon will head into this week’s clash after a solid pre-season under new coach Justin Stanton.
“Pre-season has been good, we’ve had three practice matches against Drouin, Traralgon and Warragul and it gave me the chance to have a look at the entire squad, by rotating through the three practice matches,” Stanton said.
“We got a couple of injuries out of it, but overall our list is in pretty good shape and we’re looking forward to the weekend and putting out a very competitive team.”
The Goons home ground at Spencer Street has been resurfaced over the Spring and Summer months, meaning Stanton and his team have had James Bathe Reserve in Pakenham as their training base.
Stanton has been impressed by the commitment of his players, and the club as a whole.
“The turnout at training has been a real positive, considering the fact that we’ve been training off site for the pre-season,” he said.
“It’s been great that the guys have still been showing up and putting the hard work in, and it’s been great to have good support from the Nar Nar Goon faithful during the practice matches as well.
“As for the playing personnel, what’s impressed me has been their keenness and enthusiasm to learn the way we want them to play, that’s been encouraging.
“As for the list itself, it’s a young list, but with that comes the opportunity to have a coachable group that’s keen to learn and wants to get better.
“These boys are envious of watching clubs like Tooradin and Phillip Island in recent years and they want to put themselves in the positions that those clubs have been in over the last few years.”
Stanton said the WGFNC football public can expect to see an exciting brand of football from the Goon in 2023.
“We want to play an attractive brand of football, because we think that’s going to give us the best chance to compete with those bigger clubs,” he said.
“We want to be a team that attacks the scoreboard heavily and if that means we leak some goals on the back of us being ultra-aggressive forward of the football, then so be it.
“We’ll try and move the footy quick.
“I told guys from night one of pre-season that whatever flair you’ve got to your game…I want you bringing that every week.
“If you like to run, take a few bounces and take the game on, then do that…we don’t want to be robotic and we’ve got a game style that I think will really complement our skillset.”
Stanton said he can’t wait to coach his first game for the club against high-quality opposition.
“I’m really excited by the opportunity to play Inverloch, who have been a terrific club for a long time, a great set-up down there, and Nar Nar Goon has never beaten Inverloch at Inverloch…so that’s an exciting challenge to take on for us,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it, and looking forward to that all-inclusive atmosphere that comes with having so many football and netball clubs aligned throughout the day.
“I can’t wait.”
