AFTER what became a long off-season for nearly all senior footballers, the Gippsland League season will begin on Saturday with Wonthaggi hosting Drouin.
The remainder of round one will be played the following weekend, with Morwell heading to Moe, Traralgon hosting Leongatha and Warragul welcoming Bairnsdale on April 10, before Sale hosts Maffra the following day.
While three rounds of under 18s and 16s matches were played last year, 562 days will have passed between Maffra defeating Leongatha in the 2019 grand final and the beginning of the following season for the seniors.
Coach: Jarryd Blair.
Previous finish: sixth (seven wins, 11 losses).
In: Jarryd Blair (Collingwood), Lachlan Ferguson (Collegians), Zachary Story (Warnbro Swans), Darcy Brosnan (Dalyston), Jake Joyce (Kilcunda Bass).
Out: Ben Eddy (Townsville).
THERE are knowns and there are unknowns. There are things we know we know. There are known unknowns.
There are some things we do not know, but there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don’t know we don’t know.
Wonthaggi could easily fit into any of the above categories, and the coastal town has again had a typically quiet off season – even with the appointment of hometown hero Jarryd Blair as senior coach.
With Blair at the helm, most pundits are tipping the Power to rise and challenge for a top five finish in 2021.
Coach: Jordan Kingi.
Previous finish: fifth (eight wins, 11 losses).
In: Tim Hancock (Poowong), Cal Tyler (Nar Nar Goon), Michael Theodouris (Mornington Peninsula FL).
Out: Liam Anderson (Ellinbank).
DROUIN will be aiming to go further after walking in and straight back out of the finals in 2019.
The Hawks will be bolstered by the return of playing coach Jordan Kingi, who missed most of the 2019 season with a broken arm, as well as mountain forward Micheal Theodouris, who kicked 31 goals in 2017 – a season in which Drouin did not win a game.
– Team previews by Liam Durkin.
