IN a refreshingly honest assessment of his side’s potential, Whorouly coach Scott McMasters says the Lions expect to be genuine premiership contenders in the Ovens and King league this season.
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Whorouly, searching for its first flag since 2007, added quality over the off-season and starts its campaign on Saturday away to Swanpool.
Promising recruits Josh Dixon (Whittlesea), Jonny Mercuri (Myrtleford), Rob Hill (Myrtleford), Kieren Schulz (Wodonga), Josh Kelly (Myrtleford) and Scott McKenzie (Walla) are expected to make their debuts for the club.
McMasters said anything less than a top-four finish would be seen as a disappointment.
“At a bare minimum top four is our goal,” McMasters said.
“We are not just hoping to make the eight. We’ve put together a good squad.
“We’d like to think we can finish higher than top four. ”
Whorouly’s losses have been minimal, with Rob Harrington moving to Young and Trent Stanimirovitch to Melbourne.
The Lions have been training solidly since January as they endeavour to improve on last year’s fifth-placed finish and have had a solid practice match against Tallangatta outfit Dederang followed by an intraclub game.
But in a blow, veteran forward Gene Marek looks set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines after injuring his groin against Dederang.
Big man Lance Warr will also miss Saturday’s round 1 clash due to injury.
“We’ve got a couple a bit underdone,” McMasters said.
“Gene did a groin against Dederang.
“I reckon given his history he’d be four to six weeks.
“Lance Warr, who come to us from Barny last year, has a bit of a lower back problem.
“Apart from that we are pretty well right to go.
“We’ve been training since January 5 and that was all fitness.
“We hardly touched the footy.
“You never really get that match fitness until you start the season.
“The exciting thing for us to have that many recruits to play in the senior side.”
Swanpool, which finished 13th last season, has been rumoured to be struggling for playing numbers and is not expected to pose too much trouble for the Lions.
The same can’t be said for premiers Tarrawingee, Milawa, Bonnie Doon and Benalla, according to McMasters.
“For me those clubs are our biggest challengers,” he said.
In other games, Tarrawingee will be expecting to start its season with a bang at Goormabat, Greta and King Valley will unveil its recruits at Greta Sporting Complex, Moyhu will fancy its chances at home to North Wangaratta, Benalla All Blacks face a tough assignment at Milawa, Bonnie Doon should get over Bright at home and the Tatong-Glenrowan clash at Tatong should be a close one.
