By Nathan Dole
AS REIGNING premier, Sandhurst kicks off the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior footy action as the team to beat.
There’s been a change to the coaching set-up as Bryce Curnow now teams up with gun on-baller/midfielder Lachlan Tardrew.
Last season it was Curnow in a playing role and Ash Connick, non-playing, who guided the Dragons to win the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup.
A remarkable season for the maroon and blue was capped with grand final victories in the seniors, reserves and under-18s.
Curnow’s retirement leaves a big hole to be filled in attack or defence.
He was among the best as Sandhurst won a superb grand final against Gisborne by four points.
The Dragons have been able to keep most of the premiership-winning team together.
Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye again shape as the teams most likely to challenge the Dragons.
A new-look Golden Square faces a big task to hold its spot in the top five.
The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs defied many pre-season expectations to win last season’s elimination final against Eaglehawk.
Three of the most active clubs on the recruiting front were Castlemaine, Eaglehawk and South Bendigo.
The Castlemaine Magpies and South Bendigo Bloods will field significantly stronger line-ups as they fight to qualify for finals.
There’s plenty of exciting prospects in Kangaroo Flat’s young team which will be coached by Tyrone Downie.
Round one will be played on April 12 and features Sandhurst unfurling the ’24 premiership flags before it tackles Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Other big games in the season opener will be Golden Square at home against Eaglehawk in Wade Street, South Bendigo faces Strathfieldsaye at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval, and Kangaroo Flat meets Gisborne on the Kangaroos’ ground at Dower Park.
Here’s a club-by-club glance leading into the ’25 campaign:
Castlemaine
The Michael Hartley-coached Magpies will be aiming to build on last season’s win-loss tally of 7-9 as they strive to soar from the sixth rung into the finals.
A lucrative recruting spree by Castlemaine landed Josh Eyre and Jake Stein who had been on AFL lists.
Eyre at Collingwood, and Stein at Greater Western Sydney and then Gold Coast.
Adding more height was a priority in the Magpies’ recruiting.
Number one ruckman will be Patrik Balta who heads to Camp Reserve from Airport West.
The club also gained Will Marks from South Bendigo, Ronald Fejo from Northern Bullants, Rhys Jenkins from Hepburn, Rhys Smith from Newstead, Hunter Staples from Fitzroy, and Tyler Tobin from Nilma Darnum.
Castlemaine also welcomes back Matt Filo to join a squad that includes Bailey Henderson, Kal Huntly, Zavier Murley and Ryan Eyre.
Recovery from ACL surgery means Stein will not be available until after the halfway mark of the season.
Big test in the opening round as the Magpies take on Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
On Good Friday it’s Castlemaine on home turf at Camp Reserve against Golden Square.
In round three the Magpies play at Kangaroo Flat and a week later host South Bendigo.
Eaglehawk
Expectations are high at Eaglehawk following the signing of some players with VFL experience as the Borough strives to climb from last season’s fifth placing.
The Two Blues had a win-loss tally of 9-7 last season.
On the coaching front, Travis Matheson has stayed on and will be joined by Clayton Holmes in a co-coaching role.
Key signings for the Two Blues include midfielder Joel Budarick who played in the Northern Territory with Nightcliff across summer and has played at VFL level with Brisbane Lions.
The Hawks have also recruited Jesse Corigliano who is captain of Coburg in the VFL.
Corigliano will bolster the Hawks defence when not playing for the Coburg Lions.
Track-watchers at Canterbury Park have been impressed by the skill and workrate of Ty Evans who played at half-back with Geelong West Giants.
Jack Donat goes from being in a Kangas line-up at Cohuna to be a Hawk.
The Hawks also gained Nick Thompson from Charlton to play in attack.
There are now four Thompson’s in the Hawks squad as Nick joins Ben, Jack and Sam.
Eaglehawk’s campaign kicks off at Golden Square.
On Good Friday the Hawks take on Kangaroo Flat at Canterbury Park.
Anzac Day will include the match between South Bendigo and Eaglehawk at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
First month of the Borough’s season will be capped by a home game against Gisborne.
Gisborne
The Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs will be fired up from last season’s grand final defeat.
A classic showdown for the Bendigo Advertiser premirship cup between Gisborne and Sandhurst went the way of the Dragons, 68-64.
There will be several newcomers to the Dogs’ line-up as Flynn Lakey takes a year away from the game to travel.
A gun on-baller, Lakey was one of the Dogs best in ’24.
Macklan Lord, Frank Schipano and Liam Spear were among the best in the grand final and will not be in the red, white and blue this season.
A 14-2 run across the home-and-away series put the Bulldogs in second place.
Gisborne won the qualifying final against Strathfieldsaye by 55 points and then beat Sandhurst by 23 points in the second semi-final.
Newcomers for Gisborne include Sunbury midfielder Tom Werner, and the pacy Luke Melitis from Taylors Lakes who could play in midfield or across half-back.
A strong attack will again be led by Pat McKenna and Harry Luxmoore who kicked 63 and 59 goals last season.
Add in ruckman Braidon Blake and ruck-rover Brad Bernacki who were joint Michelsen medallists, plus Jack Reaper in defence and the classy Matt Merrett and there’s plenty for Gisborne fans to look forward to.
Gisborne’s season kicks off at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
On Good Friday the Bulldogs face South Bendigo at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
In round three Gisborne hosts Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Opening month of the season for the Dogs will be capped by the clash on Eaglehawk’s turf in Canterbury Park.
Golden Square
Overcame the loss of many of the ’23 premiership team to achieve a win-loss tally of 10-6 and finish last season’s home-and-away action in fourth place.
The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs then knocked Eaglehawk from the premiership race as it won the elimination final by 31 points.
A week later and Square went down, 70-78, in the first semi against Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Huge challenge in ’25 as ruckman Kai Daniels is now on Richmond’s VFL list, and gun on-ballers Tom Toma and Ricky Monti have signed with Cohuna Kangas.
Jake Maher marks a return to the game in the blue and gold.
Harry Law also returns to the kennel after a stint with Southport and Labrador.
Carson James has crossed from Strathfieldsaye to team up with his brother, Brodie.
Another recruit is Dermott Bell.
After kicking 51 goals last season, Jack Stewart will play a crucial role in attack along with captain Jayden Burke.
A premiership-winner, Tom Strauch’s versatility is a huge plus in a season where his dad, Dean will coach the Bulldogs’ under-18s.
Golden Square is on home turf in Wade Street to renew a fierce rivalry with Eaglehawk in round one.
On Good Friday the Bulldogs make their way down the Calder Highway to play Castlemaine at Camp Reserve.
Anzac weekend will include the clash between Golden Square and Sandhurst in the kennel.
A tough start for the Dogs rolls on at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park in round four.
Kangaroo Flat
The Kangaroos have Tyrone Downie taking up the coaching reins again in ’25.
A beefed-up footy department includes Jason Stevens as Head of Football, and Corey Greer as senior assistant coach.
All three have previously been the Kangaroos’ senior coaches.
The Roos have regained gun ruckman/forward Nick Lang from a stint at Kerang where he won a premiership with the Blues.
A 3-13 record meant Kangaroo Flat finished last season in eighth place.
Being competitive for longer in every quarter they contest will be a major goal for all the Roos players and coaches as the season rolls on.
Big test at home first-up against Gisborne in round one at Dower Park.
On Good Friday the Roos will play in Eaglehawk.
On Anzac weekend it’s Kangaroo Flat against Castlemaine at Dower Park.
The Roos then take on the reigning premier in Sandhurst’s home at Queen Elizabeth Oval in the fourth round.
Sandhurst
The Dragons worked incredibly hard for last year’s premiership triumph and will again be the team to beat.
This year it’s Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and the classy Lachlan Tardrew, playing, who team up as co-coaches.
The Dragons achieved a win-loss tally of 16-3 in its run to winning the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup in ’24.
A hiccup was the 23-point loss to Gisborne in the second semi, but the Dragons fired up to win the next two contests against Strathfieldsaye and then Gisborne in the match which matters most.
Recruits for the maroon and blue include Wedderburn forward Tom Campbell, Seb Collins returns to the club from Maryborough, and Will Brohm from Mayne.
The Dragons have added more height to the squad by gaining Hugh Schmetzer who spent this summer playing for PINT in the Northern Territory.
Schmetzer crosses to the Dragons’ den from Osborne in the Hume league.
A formidable squad for Sandhurst includes Tardrew who was a joint winner of the Michelsen Medal as league fairest and best in ’24, and Fergus Greene who kicked 83 goals and claimed the Ron Best Medal.
New co-captains will be Fergus Greene and Cooper Smith.
Sandhurst will unfurl the premiership flag before it takes on Castlemaine in round one on April 12 at the QEO.
On Good Friday it’s Sandhurst against Strathfieldsaye in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Round three features a showdown between Sandhurst and Golden Square on the Bullldogs’ turf.
The Dragons are back at the QEO in round four against Kangaroo Flat.
South Bendigo
There’s a long way to go, but the Bloods could be this season’s bolter as they hit back from a 4-12 record and seventh placing last season.
Among the many changes at the Bloods was the signing of Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, as co-coaches.
Both know plenty about qualifying and winning finals.
An outstanding record for Coates includes coaching Kerang to six senior premierships and he also coached Strathfieldsaye to the Bendigo FNL premiership in 2019.
Fallon teamed with Kaiden Antonowicz to coach White Hills to premiership glory last September.
They are among six players who have crossed from White Hills to play for the Bloods.
Recruits for the red and white include Tom Brereton, Callum Crisp, Alex Davis and James Davies from White Hills; Caleb Nitschke from Kerang; Hayden Geddes from Donald, and Jesse Collins from Lockington Bamawm United.
The Bloods also welcome back Joel Swatton from Maryborough, Braydan Torpey from Nightcliff, and top ruckman Mac Cameron who was club’s fairest and best winner two years ago.
Another plus is the return of the skilful Will Keck in midfield or closer to goal.
An attack that includes Steven Stroobants and Brock Harvey who kicked 52 and 50 goals last season is likely to have better and more supply this season.
The Bloods tackle Strathfieldsaye in round one at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.
On Good Friday the Bloods play at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Anzac Day will feature a stand-alone match between South Bendigo and Eaglehawk at Harry Trott Oval.
A challenging start for South Bendigo includes the match at Castlemaine in round four.
Strathfieldsaye
Storm has a remarkable record of being a premiership contender every season.
The club achieved a win-loss tally of 4-2 as it featured in six of the seven grand finals between 2013 and ’19.
After the Covid-affected seasons of ’20 and ’21, Storm was runner-up in ’22.
Strathfieldsaye has not featured in the past two grand finals, but was not far away as it went down in last September’s preliminary final to Sandhurst by just 10 points.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm has plenty of marking and running power in this season’s squad.
Those returning to the club include on-baller Sam Heavyside from Kerang, Jed Brereton from Airport West, Jye Formosa from Longwood, and Jordan Wilson from Colbinabbin.
Storm has also gained Boort’s Nick Clydesdale, and midfielder Zebb Murrell who was a premiership winner with Mount Pleasant in the ’23 season.
Huge plus will be the return of gun forward James Schischka who had kicked 47 goals in 12 matches before he was injured.
Another key target in attack will be Malik Gordon.
Strathfieldsaye kicks off its campaign on South Bendigo’s turf at Harry Trott Oval.
A highlight of Good Friday includes the Storm and Sandhurst match at Strathfieldsaye’s Triple M Park.
In round three it’s Strathfieldsaye on Gisborne’s ground at Gardiner Reserve.
A testing opening month for the blue and white hoops closes out with a home game against Golden Square.
Doley’s predictions:
Top five – Sandhurst, Strathfieldsaye, Gisborne, Castlemaine, Eaglehawk.
Premiers – Sandhurst.
Runner-up – Strathfieldsaye.
Ron Best Medal, leading goalkicker – Fergus Greene, Sandhurst.
Michelsen Medal, fairest and best – Bailey Henderson, Castlemaine