By Nathan Dole
THERE’S a new coaching set-up at five clubs for this season’s senior footy action across the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.
Marong’s pursuit of four premierships in a row will be led by new co-coaches Kain Robins, playing, and Paul Thomson, non-playing.
Both bring plenty of experience to the task as the Panthers strive to add to their dynasty and challenge the records of Calivil United which won six consecutive grand finals from 2003 until ’08, and Bridgewater’s streak of seven, 2010 to ’16.
A gun full-forward and multiple premiership player with Strathfieldsaye Storm, Lachlan Sharp moves into the “hot seat” after being assistant coach at Bridgewater.
The league’s other rookie coaches are Sam Maher at Calivil United, Luke Lougoon at Mitiamo, and Matt McArthur at Newbridge.
The season kicks off April 5 in which last year’s first semi-finalists, Bridgewater and Bears-Lagoon Serpentine meet in match of the day.
Here’s a club-by-club glance leading into the ’25 campaign:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine
There are plenty of positives for the Bears as they aim to climb higher than last season’s fourth placing.
In his debut season as coach, Jake Wilkinson led BLS to a win-loss tally of 13-3 and third at the end of the home-and-away series.
An 88-point loss to Pyramid Hill in the qualifying final was followed by an 80-79 defeat to Bridgewater in the first semi-final.
The Bears early charge was led by former Fremantle Dockers forward Josh Mellington as he kicked 99 goals in nine matches before his season was ended by a serious hamstring injury.
Mellington will be back in attack and also takes on the challenge as assistant coach.
The Bears also welcome back ruckman Aidan Brohm from North Bendigo.
It’s a formidable ruck combination of Nathan Twigg and Brohm in the purple and gold.
The Bears also have Justin Laird who played a crucial on-ball role and was last season’s Harding medallist as the competition’s fairest and best player.
Other recruits for BLS include key forward Luke Crawford from Sandhurst, and Jarrod Starr from Boort.
The Bears play at Bridgewater in round one and are home to Inglewood a week later.
A bye in round three will be followed by the home game against Pyramid Hill.
Bridgewater
A preliminary finalist in ’24, Bridgewater is again likely to be a strong runner in the premiership race.
The Mean Machine has appointed gun goalkicker Lachlan Sharp as senior coach.
Sharp joined Bridgewater after a brilliant career with Strathfieldsaye Storm in which he was a multiple premiership winner, a Ron Best medallist as league leading goalkicker, and Michelsen medallist as league fairest and best.
In his first season at Bridgewater, Sharp kicked 138 goals in 19 matches and played a crucial role as the Rick Ladson-coached team won finals against Newbridge and Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
The Machine’s run was ended by Marong in the preliminary final.
A key signing for Bridgewater was midfielder Luke Ellings from Kangaroo Flat.
A premiership player with Gisborne, Ellings also represented the Bendigo FNL in last year’s challenge match against the Victorian Amateurs.
The Ellings brothers, Luke and Jacob will team up for the Mean Machine.
The club also welcomes back Alex Powell from a stint with Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
Players to watch for Bridgewater across this season include Ben Derrick, Harry McKinley and Darcy Wood.
There is plenty of experience and skill in the Bridgewater line-up which starts its campaign at home against the Bears.
The Machine then rolls on Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully to play the Eagles in round two before playing the Blues at Inglewood in round three.
One of the best games in the first month of the season will be Bridgewater versus Marong on the Machine’s turf in the fourth round.
Calivil United
New coach Sam Maher will be aiming to lift the Demons into the finals once again after the Anthony Dennis-coached team marked a 5-11 record and sixth placing last season.
Newcomers to the den at Calivil include wingman Calum Binnie from Old Brighton, half-back Will Hamilton from Golden Square, and key position/ruckman Jayden Leach.
After stints at Pyramid Hill and Macorna, Dylan Goulding is making a comeback to the game and then there’s the strong tackling Lachlan Palmer brings from a rugby background in New Zealand.
The Demons are home at Calivil for the opening round clash with Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Next up will be Mitiamo at John Forbes Oval before a home game against Marong.
It’s a bye for the Demons in the fourth round.
Inglewood
The Blues will be desperate to bounce back after sliding to the seventh rung last season.
Second-year coach Fergus Payne and the recruiting team put a major emphasis on midfield depth.
A huge plus for the Blues is the return of Bregon Cotchett from West Preston-Lakeside.
Inglewood has also gained Kai Cavallaro from Heathcote to bolster the attack.
The experience of Thomas Guerra from Leitchville-Gunbower and his ability to play in defence, midfield or attack is a huge plus.
Other newcomers for the Blues include Sam Essex from White Hills, Ben Napier from Kyabram, and Blake Smyth from Marong juniors.
Massive test for Inglewood first-up when it hosts Marong on April 5.
The Blues tackle Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the Bears’ den in round two and are at home against Bridgewater in a tough start to their ’25 campaign.
Round four features Newbridge against Inglewood.
Maiden Gully YCW
The Eagles again have Shawn Filo and former Essendon and Port Adelaide forward/midfielder Angus Monfries as co-coaches.
A win-loss tally of 4-12 meant the Eagles finished last season in eighth place.
Huge coup for the Eagles was the signing of key position player Daniel Russell from Elmore to be playing assistant coach.
Russell has also represented NT Thunder and Rochester.
Mason and Tyler James return to Maiden Gully YCW from Newstead.
Other signings for the Eagles include Jaidyn Berry from Wedderburn, Mitch Hill from Greensborough, Tyson Jackson from Castlemaine, Josh Leech from South Bendigo, Thomas Martin from Wycheproof-Narraport, and Muzz Robbins from Newstead.
The Eagles start their season at Calivil and then host Bridgewater in round two at Marist College Oval.
Round three features the Eagles on home turf against Newbridge before a clash on Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Marong
Will the premiership dynasty roll on or will the Panthers reign at the top end?
It’s a change at the top as Kain Robins and Paul Thomson team up as co-coaches following the departure of Linton Jacobs to Colbinabbin after leading the Panthers to a premiership hat-trick.
A key figure in the Panthers attack, Robins kicked 58 goals last season and will play on.
Thomson brings plenty of experience to the role.
In a remarkable run to last season’s grand final win, Marong had a 15-1 record to finish the home-and-away series on top of the ladder.
The Panthers bounced back from a 13-point loss to Pyramid Hill in the second semi-final to beat Bridgewater in the preliminary final.
A week later and Marong raised the cup again after a 61-25 victory in the grand final showdown with Pyramid Hill in Mitiamo.
On the recruiting front, Marong bolstered its squad by signing Shannon Geary, a multiple premiership winner with Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Geary’s versatility and attack at the contest are among the many strengths he has.
An assistant coach in Harcourt’s run to last season’s premiership, Todd Kenworthy is back at Marong and Patrick Gretgrix returns to the Panthers from Harcourt.
Other recruits include Declan Highgate, a wingman/half-back from Burnside Heights, and Jacob Ede from Harcourt.
After a year off to study his Masters degree, Nathan Walsh will mark a return to the footy field.
A formidable line-up for the Panthers includes Jonty Davis, Nathan Devanny, Jimmy Gadsden, Corey Gregg, Shaun Knott, Kyle Manley, Ryley Taylor, and Richard Tibbett.
Marong’s season kicks off at Inglewood.
The Panthers will unfurl the ’24 premiership flag before they tackle Pyramid Hill at the newly-named Jackal Oval at Malone Park in round two.
It’s a huge day for the club as Marong marks the annual Michael Herrick Memorial Round.
Marong plays at Calivil in round three and travels to Bridgewater a week later.
Mitiamo
After a winless run last season, Mitiamo’s new coach Luke Lougoon and his team will be desperate to turn fortunes around.
A multiple premiership winner with the Superoos, Lougoon has experienced the highs and lows the game throws up.
Newcomers to Mitiamo’s team include Lachlan Carter from Mathoura, Anthony Huismann from Stanhope, Cody Tuohey from Kerang, and Jarrod Saliba from Tarneit.
The Superoos have the bye in round one and then kick off the ’25 campaign on their turf at John Forbes Oval against Calivil United.
It’s a trek to Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park in round three before the Superoos are at home against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the fourth round.
Newbridge
Was a brilliant effort by Newbridge to achieve a win-loss tally of 7-9 and earn a finals berth last season.
The run by Maroons was ended by Bridgewater in the elimination final.
Key position player Matt McArthur steps up to be Newbridge’s senior coach.
A multiple premiership winner with Powellton, McArthur joined the Maroons in ’24.
Big test in the opening round where Newbridge will on its turf at Riverside Oval against Pyramid Hill.
A bye in round two will be followed by the clash at Maiden Gully in round three.
The Maroons return to their ground in the fourth round to face Inglewood.
Pyramid Hill
The Bulldogs kick off the season aiming to break a premiership drought which has lasted since 1950.
Played brilliantly to beat Marong twice last season, but in the grand final it was the Panthers which outclassed the Bulldogs to win by six goals.
Nathan Fitzpatrick marks another season as coach as talented forward Zach Alford also takes on a coaching role.
The Bulldogs’ attack is bolstered by the signing of Ben Bisset from Mount Pleasant.
He will be part of a forward line that includes Zach Alford and Jesse Sheahan.
A three-time winner of the Cheatley Medal as fairest and best in the Heathcote DFNL when at Huntly, Ryan Semmel is one of the big-name recruits in the Valley.
Other recruits at Pyramid Hill include Jasper Cheeseman from University Blues; Mitchell Cheeseman from Old Launcestonians; Zavier Ballis from Cairns; Daniel Frame from Mount Pleasant; and Levi Moss from Boort.
After a stint at North Bendigo, Pat Bogers joins the Pyramid Hill Bulldogs.
The club has also gained Mitch Langan who played for Noosa last season and previously played for North Shore and at Coates Talent League level with Geelong Falcons.
The Bulldogs have also signed athletic ruckman Kai Daniels from Golden Square who is also on Richmond’s VFL list.
The build-up to the season includes the O’Connor Case CIH Community Practice Match Series on March 29 at Pyramid Hill.
There will be 10 clubs represented across the day’s action.
Pyramid Hill plays at Newbridge’s Riverside Oval in the opening round and then meets Marong in the rematch of the ’24 grand finalists in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park in round two.
The Bulldogs’ first home game of the season at Mitchell Park will be in the third round against Mitiamo.
Another big clash will be at Serpentine against the Bears in round four.
Doley’s predictions:
Top five – Pyramid Hill, Marong, Bridgewater, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, Inglewood.
Premiers – Pyramid Hill.
Runner-up – Marong.
Leading goalkicker – Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Frank Harding Medal – Shannon Geary, Marong