O&M 2017
Your complete guide to the season
Albury's kryptonite
The league, and its fans, are desperate for a new hero
By ANDREW MOIR
In the last three years you needed Superman to beat Albury. Throw in Batman as well. And Wonder Woman. In fact, the whole Justice League.
Since the Tigers regained the title from Yarrawonga in 2014, they’ve won 56 games and lost three.
In that year, the average winning margin was 97 points. It was 62 the following season and last year it was 79.
We asked Wodonga Raiders’ Steve Jolliffe to dress up as Superman (thanks Steve, we owe you a million for that) to symbolise the league’s greatest issue in recent years.
Now, nobody’s blaming Albury. And Tigers’ benefactor Colin Joss is one of the nicest guys you will meet.
In fact, rather than bag them, the O&M owes the Tigers a debt of gratitude.
Back in 2007-08 when Wangaratta was winning, we all thought how good is this team.
It had former Carlton midfielder Jon McCormick, Goulburn Valley top-liner Paul Kirby, a handful of fringe VFL players and ageing star Jon Henry.
But then Albury went Kapow! Blam! Zap! (sorry it’s the Batman coming out in me).
It picked up former Richmond player Chris Hyde, ex-SANFL midfielder Shaun Daly, former North Albury youngster Joel Mackie and blockbusting one-time Myrtleford star Andy Carey. Plus two-time Albury premiership coach Paul Spargo
The Tigers took the league to its highest-ever level.
A poll of 50 players from the competition that year indicated it had never been stronger in the modern era.
The Tigers won three straight flags, and the only thing that stopped them from winning the last eight is two-time Coleman Medallist Brendan Fevola.
That’s not meant, in any way, as a knock on that Pigeons’ line-up from their premiership years in 2012-13.
It was outstanding with Craig Ednie, Tim Cooper, Xavier Leslie etc.
But Fev was the difference and the Tigers struggled to contain him, as everyone did.
And why wouldn’t they? He was a Victorian representative. In fact, Albury’s domination led to that golden era of Fevola, Barry Hall, Jason Akermanis.
But even with Fev, the Tigers wrestled that stranglehold back.
Normally you never want to see a team come back to the pack to even up the competition.
It’s better the other way. But Albury wasn’t coming back.
Last year’s heavy rain had a massive impact on the smallest grand final crowd in the league’s 124-season history with only 4175 there.
But fan fatigue also played a role.
People want to see a contest, but, with the Tigers, the fight was sometimes over after 20 minutes.
You could go to a Tigers’ game and the crowd was more interested in talking than watching.
Again, that’s not Albury’s fault.
The statewide introduction of the players points system and salary cap appears, on the surface, to have had an immediate impact.
Albury lost the league’s biggest players – siblings Setanta and Aisake O’hAilpin – and a handful of others, including co-coach Daniel Maher.
Sure, the Tigers have lost plenty there.
But has there even been a deeper midfield?. Seriously, how good is it?
There’s Daniel Cross, Mackie, Daly, Dean Polo and Hyde. And then there’s Brayden O’Hara who played mostly up forward last year but boasts a top 10 finish in the midfield in the SANFL’s Magarey Medal.
Can that midfield help grab a record-equalling fourth premiership?
Or will the league’s points allocation and salary cap of $160,000 prove to be Superman’s kryptonite?
In the league’s 125th season, and most important, the answer had better be a resounding yes.
Albury
Tigers up four the challenge
As they look to add another flag, is Albury's air of invincibility gone?
By ANDREW MOIR
Have we seen the last of the superstar sides?
Yes.
The introduction of the player points system last year, with the addition of the $160,000 salary cap this season, means we will never see teams boasting up to seven players with experience at AFL clubs, a la Albury last year.
Hopefully, it doesn’t frighten clubs into electing not to chase the big-name players. There will just be less of them.
Is this the most vulnerable Albury has been since a Brendan Fevola-inspired Yarrawonga won in 2012-13
Absolutely.
For the first time in three years, we enter the season, hopefully, knowing Albury is not a certainty to win every game.
Sure the club lost two games in 2015, but Albury already had the minor premiership wrapped up, and the players clocked off knowing they had another flag there for the taking.
Albury’s average winning margin in 2015 was just over 10 goals. Last year it was an incredible 79 points.
The loss of the two biggest, and among the best, players in the competition in Setanta and Aisake o’hAilpin robs the club of enormous firepower.
Setanta had a Fevola-like goal-kicking average, while Aisake proved far better than many thought, and could easily have won the Did Simpson medal in the middle grand final.
Did Albury deliberately take its foot off the pedal, due to outside pressure?
No chance and why should they?
That's the salary cap's impact.
Q&A with Luke Packer
Q: You debuted in 2001, how have you been able to last that long?
Obviously I enjoy the training side, getting down there and training hard, it doesn't seem like hard work to me. Keeping yourself really fit is the key point to lasting a long time and playing good footy when you're older.
Q: How would you compare the professionalism of today with when you started?
It's been a huge change in attitude and the expectations from the playing list. Back in the early days we weren't quite as good, so there's more naturally driven players now than we were back then. When 'Spargs' (Paul Spargo) came on board, he set the standard and he brought people into the club so once that bar was lifted, we haven't let it drop.
Q: Do you sense that other clubs feel you are more vulnerable then you have been for a long time?
It's hard for me to say because I'm not in contact with the opposition as much in the off-season, but once the games get underway you might get that feel a bit more. Within the club, we're confident in the players we have here. Maybe there's not so many big headline players, we've lost a couple in the O'hAilpins I suppose, but we'll take a very different side in, we'll have a different feel to our game and we definitely like what we've see from the team over the off-season.
Corowa-Rutherglen
Lavington
New era for Panthers
Lavington has been the 'nearly side' for much of Albury's domination
By ANDREW MOIR
Lavington has moved from a slower, experienced side to a quicker one, will that work?
Lavington has been the nearly side of the past two years, but it still hasn’t been a realistic hope of winning the flag, Albury was simply too good.
One of a handful of criticisms of Albury in recent years has been a perceived lack of pace, but trying to find a weakness with Albury has been like trying to find a fault with Elle MacPherson.
Can Marty Brennan star in the O&M, similar to his performances in the Tallangatta and District League?
It all comes down to one thing, belief.
Brennan has always been unbelievable on his feet, brave and a beautiful overhead mark.
He was tied up with the Murray Bushrangers a few years ago, but didn’t devote himself to it.
He wanted to be back with his mates at Rutherglen.
Does he want to be a big fish in a big sea? If he wants it badly enough, he’ll be a star.
Q&A with Luke Garland
Q: Congratulations on being named Lavington captain, what does it mean?
It's a pretty big honour really, you look at the previous captains, the last two especially in 'Skillsy', Darryn McKimmie, and 'Stevo', they had really established careers over a long period of time, so to be named by your peers to take on that role is a pretty big honour really.
Q: Lavington has gone from an experienced side to a younger, faster outfit, what difference will that make?
Getting those young guys in there with pace, it allows you to take the game on a lot more. There will be times when we mess things up and we won't play that well, but I don't think we'll go away from the stuff we've been training at.
Q: You've been so close the last six years, was the change needed to take that next step?
I wouldn't call it a change we needed to have because I wish 'Penda' and 'Stevo' and Lachie Boyd and 'Kosi' could stay forever, but it's actually been really good to see some guys step up in their absence. I just think the guys we've recruited this year and the guys we've got back to the club will be as hungry as ever. There's a few of the guys that have been through that era of prelim finals and grand finals, but the new guys haven't and they're hungry.
Myrtleford
North Albury
Rebuilding the Hoppers
With just 5 wins in 2016, how far can North Albury go with an ageing gun and a bunch of kids?
By ANDREW MOIR
North has lost so many players over the past four years, will the ploy to get as many former players back work?
Not this year.
Daniel Leslie and Clinton Gilson took over in mid-January, so they were no chance to pick up more than a handful of former players.
Still, the Hoppers did well at that late stage to regain Josh and Ben Lloyd, and the word is the latter is a talented prospect.
North will speak to a host of former players during the year, with the hope of winning them over for next year.
North finished second-last in 2016 with five wins, the Roos have picked up some players, are they bound for the wooden spoon?
No.
The Hoppers will still have enough firepower to handle the Roos, just.
Remember though, the Hoppers won only one of their last 12 games, and they’ve lost two of their two three in the best and fairest, so it’s one hell of a battle to return anywhere near finals action.
What's a realistic number of wins?
Four at the most.
The Hoppers should account for the Roos in both games, and may push Wangaratta Rovers as well.
But that’s their only hope as the other two clubs to miss finals, Wodonga and Wangaratta, have pushed well beyond them for this year.
At 34, Dan Leslie faces enormous responsibility, but that’s nothing new to him as he’s carried that since the Hoppers were last a genuine force a decade ago.
Q&A with Dan Leslie
Q: How have you enjoyed your first few months as a co-coach?
It's been different with the time-frame. It's a lot of work and you don't really understand how much work it is until you get into it, but I'm enjoying it, working with a good bunch of kids.
Q: Have you learnt anything new about footy?
It's things like looking at the draw, planning training for the week, just different things like player management. You have 30-40 guys and you try and get around and talk to everyone, just finding the time to do all those sorts of things, which is obviously something you don't come across to the same degree when you're playing, even when I was captain.
Q: How will the co-coaching role work with Clinton Gilson?
I'll have more of an extended captain's role on ground, while Clint will run everything from the boundary line. During the breaks, I will still break out with my group, depending on where I'm playing, but I won't bother him too much during the games, you don't want two blokes yelling and screaming.
Q: What's a realistic goal?
I want to improve on last year, I'd like to finish higher than five wins. You're always trying to improve, so that would be good to get past that figure and I would like to think we can do that with the side that we have.
Wangaratta
Wangaratta Rovers
Homegrown Hawk hope
Wangaratta Rovers haven't picked up any big names and will be relying on juniors and district players to impress
By ANDREW MOIR
Can the Rovers rely on local talent and play finals?
No.
The Hawks went within a goal of playing in the 2012 grand final when Barry Hill missed a shot after the siren against Yarrawonga, while they signed former Hawthorn player Jarrod Boumann and ex-Western Bulldog James Mulligan for the 2014 season.
Hall was a huge success, he and Brendan Fevola getting two years worth of spectators for their clash.
But it was about a premiership and Rovers fell just short, and they haven’t been a force since.
The Hawks have opted to go with either locals or bush players, and while they have the respect of everyone in the league for such a noble attitude, you will never win a premiership doing that.
What will Ross Hill bring to the club?
Passion. Experience. The desire to be the best you possibly can.
Hill came in at the end of the Hawks’ dominant period, so he learnt off 12-time best and fairest Rob Walker, along with fellow professionals Tony Pasquali, Peter Tossol, Mick Wilson and Co.
He takes his preparation seriously, and after three years with the Murray Bushrangers as an assistant, he will have developed further.
It might not be reflected in wins and losses this year, but Hill will help instill a desire that can only help the Hawks in the long term.
Will Rovers have any rep players?
Yes, Sam Carpenter is a certainty.
You have to love the way Carpenter plays.
He’s courageous, he’s tough, he’s skillful. He’s extracted the absolute best from himself.
For those new to the league, Carpenter lost his left arm in an accident in his father’s butcher shop as a four-year-old, but his ability to adapt has been exemplary.
Ruckman Shane Gaston could also possibly play interleague.
Q&A with Luke Peters
What's your expectations for Rovers?
Well to start with, we'd like to improve on last year and ideally like to play finals.
Q: You had the six wins last year to finish eighth, and haven't picked up a lot, why do you think you'll be able to push for a top five spot?
A number of the young blokes will look to improve this year, like Stuart Booth, while a number of the new players will certainly add something, so, internally, we're confident we can improve.
Q: What can you tell us about Sam Bowers, who's come to the club from Ovens and King outfit Milawa?
He looks a really good mover, we're very impressed by him. He doesn't stop running, he's quick, he can jump, he gets a lot of the footy.
Q: What has Ross Hill brought to the club as co-coach?
He's made a huge difference. He just speaks so well and got a good background in playing obviously with 300-plus games at Rovers and his couple of years at the Bushies learning the coaching side of things.
Q: Why will Ross and co-coach Sam Carpenter work so well?
They're quite different, Sam leads by example, Ross also did when he played, but Sam lets his performance on the field do the talking, while Ross's knowledge and communication is so strong.
Wodonga
Wodonga Raiders
Raiders' small ball
It will be a young, fast and fit side after losing a number of experienced players like Matt McDonald and Hayden Heta.
By ANDREW MOIR
Will Raiders run the risk of breaking the points allocation?
Yes.
More than any other club, Raiders will need to balance the figures so they won’t go over the 42 allowed.
You just about need a degree to keep everything above board if you are close to the mark.
Will Raiders be a better team than last year?
Really difficult to say.
Raiders have finished fourth the past two years.
One thing is certain though, and that is they will lack size.
The tallest player is only around that 190-centimetre mark, so Raiders have spent the pre-season working on the theory they will have to run teams ragged.
It’s debatable if that will be enough to win a premiership, but it will certainly entertain.
Bendigo and NT league medal winner Brodie Filo will be comparable with any midfielder, but if a big forward gets cracking, it will have to be all hands on deck to quieten him.
How good will Jackson Kelly be?
Pretty good, but should be even better in a few years.
The son of former Sydney Swans’ captain Paul Kelly, he’s only 21 and around 70 kilograms.
His dad was similar at that age, and while he never became a hulking giant, he was one of the AFL’s greats of his era through courage, persistence and desire.
You have to remember Kelly is also coming up about two or three levels from the Riverina league, so it will take time to adapt.
But given his pedigree, he will be under more pressure than most.
Q&A with Mark Doolan
Q: Why did you return to Raiders after three years at Chiltern?
I probably missed it a bit. When I did my knee I left and when to Chiltern, not knowing how that would go, but it's all fine, I just felt like getting home, It's my home club and I really missed my time away. While I enjoyed Chiltern, I'm enjoying being back at Raiders.
Q: What makes Wodonga Raiders such a special club?
I came through the juniors ranks with Nic Conway and guys like that. Everything I've done in footy, I owe it to them for giving me the opportunity.
Q: What did you learn at Chiltern, one year as an assistant and two as coach?
Obviously you're a little naive about the time that goes into coaching before you do it yourself. It forces you to be a leader and relate to different sorts of people. It's a good experience, but I don't think I'll be one of the life-time coaches because of the time.
Q: How much of a different player will you be?
I'll be older and slower (laughs). I won't be spending huge amounts of time in the midfield, the body wouldn't be able to keep up with the workload. I don't expect to be the player I was when I left, but, hopefully, I can be a contributor. I started my career up forward and I've always spent a lot of time up forward, even the last time I was here.
Yarrawonga
