THE PIGEONS WILL LOOK TO EQUAL WANGARATTA ROVERS' RECORD 14 STRAIGHT FINALS CAMPAIGNS (1969-82), WILL THEY DO IT?
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Yes.
But there's a catch, they won't contend for the title.
Once again, under the new system (salary cap-players points), it's the Merv Hughes theory - it's harder to get out of the Australian team than it is to get in and it's harder to get out of the five than in.
Wodonga Raiders will probably be the exception, falling out, but only because they've lost a stack of their best players.
Basically, if you can keep your list comparable with the previous year, you should almost be right.
Yarrawonga made last year's second semi and you could see them bowing out in this year's corresponding match.
The club has lost the best ruckman in Lach Howe, but the others are replaceable.
WILL MARK WHILEY PLAY FORWARD?
Ditto a la Lavington's Simon Curtis.
Whiley isn't the kick of the Panthers' right-footer but, just like him, he will be so much more dangerous if he can bag a goal or two a game.
You would back the former AFL midfielder to win a Morris Medal, averaging 30-plus possessions, but if he becomes a goalkicking on-baller, his odds shorten drastically.
SO WHICH YOUNG PLAYERS WILL THE CLUB LOOK TO TO FILL THE GAP LEFT BY THE DEPARTURES?
Isaac McMillan and Jack Sexton for starters.
Both played in the under 18 grand final loss to Wangaratta Rovers' classy outfit.
McMillan played seven senior games, while the son of coach Damian Sexton is a tigerish on-baller.
Sexton senior's brief when he started was to develop the youth and there's an emerging group, including key position Matt Casey and Brady Pritchard.
Q&A WITH BILLY ANDREW
Q: You've made the move from Barooga in the Murray League, how much tougher do you expect it to be?
A: Obviously it will be a step up with the bigger bodies in the Ovens and Murray, but I'm looking forward to it.
Q: Is there a big difference at training?
A: Yes and no. I didn't really have a (former AFL player in) Mark Whiley at training, so he probably harps on at training about your craft, he's really big on that one. The running's pretty similar, I guess it's the same goal as every club, you just want to get fit.
Q: Is Mark an inspiration at training?
A: From what I've been told he's definitely more a lead by example type of player. He runs hard and knows his footy, so he's an inspiration to his team-mates I guess.
Q: Mark comes across as a quiet person off the field, does he do more talking on the training track?
A: He definitely talks plenty at training. He and 'Secco' (coach Damian Sexton) are really good, if there's something we need to get better, they'll pull us up, they've been very good.
RELATED:
SEASON SNAPSHOT
ARRIVALS
Tim McAuley (Temora), Will Gorman and Billy Andrew (Barooga)
DEPARTURES
Lach Howe (Blackburn), Logan Morey (Barooga), Jordan Daniel (Maroochydore), Nick Lawless (Tungamah), Damon Symes (university)
VFL-LISTED PLAYERS
Willie Wheeler (Williamstown)
THE A-TEAM
B: James Elliott, Beau Seymour, Scott Oswald
HB: Jayden Gallagher, Mitch Collins-Bye, Billy Andrew
C: Ryan Bruce, Mark Whiley, Tyler Bonat
HF: Brady Pritchard, Matt Casey, Xavier Leslie
F: Jess Koopman, Brandon Symes, Brayden Coburn
Foll: Jake Wild, Tim McAuley, Harry Wheeler
Int: Jordan Urquhart, Isaac McMillan, Zack Smith, Will Gorman
2019 DRAW
R1: Corowa-Rutherglen (a)
R2: Wodonga Raiders (a)
R3: Wangaratta (h)
R4: Myrtleford (h)
R5: Wodonga (h)
R6: Lavington (a)
R7: Wangaratta Rovers (h)
R8: North Albury (a)
R9: Albury (h)
R10: Wodonga Raiders (h)
R11: Corowa-Rutherglen (h)
R12: Wangaratta (a)
R13: Myrtleford (a)
R14: Lavington (h)
R15: Wodonga (a)
R16: Albury (a)
R17: North Albury (h)
R18: Wangaratta Rovers (a)
2018 BEST & FAIREST
1st: Harry Wheeler
2nd: Xavier Leslie
3rd: Lach Howe
2018 MOST GOALS
1st: Jess Koopman 56
2nd: Brandon Symes 51
3rd: Brad O'Connor 21
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