Berwick spearhead George Gorozidis and his Narre Warren counterpart Lee Clark (below) will be two of the drawcards in their roundone clash at Fox Road on Saturday.By Brad Kingsbury
CAN the boys from Fox Road, Narre Warren unseat last year’s premiers and undefeated champions Doveton and win a longawaited premiership?
That question will be answered over the next 25 weeks and the muchanticipated 2006 Casey Cardinia League season gets into gear with a roundone blockbuster between the Magpies and recruitladen neighbour Berwick.
Narre Warren officials pulled off the coup of the preseason by signing possibly the biggest name to leave the AFL last year, Aussie Jones, as coach, while Berwick lifted its profile through elite player Ronnie Burns taking the reins.
Unfortunately Burns will not play in the opening clash due to suspension, but an influx of recruits led by experienced key John McNamara, together with a fit George Gorozidis and a new attitude, has set up a huge opening game.
The Magpies have great depth and proved last year that they were the match of all except their grand final conqueror, Doveton.
Jones has the challenge of lifting the same list, led by assistant coach Brett Evans and 100goal full forward Lee Clark, one step higher this year.
Time will tell whether his influence can achieve that aim but on Saturday, in front of a huge crowd, it should be enough to provide his team with enough inspiration to start the year on the right note.
Beaconsfield will host Doveton in another bigticket game highlighted by the coaching debut of Haydn Robins with the Eagles.
Doveton is the league yardstick and, despite the loss of Danny Casset, will be as tough to beat as ever after the return to the club of Peter Greenstreet and Shannon Clarke, together with the addition of recruit Peter Davenport.
Beaconsfield has had a changing of the guard with the departure of several regular players including Kane Airdrie, Ben Collins, Ross Jackson and Troy Cashman.
The Eagles are always a difficult prospect at Perc Allison Reserve with their terrific midfield but firepower could be their problem this season and Doveton should start 2006 on a positive note.
The clash between Pakenham and Hampton Park at Toomuc Reserve is crucial for both clubs in terms of confidence for the rest of the season.
The Lions have lost some good young talent, but added experience and class with Jared Goldsack and the Allen brothers, Jack and Joe and exciting Gippsland Power forward Nathan Lieshout.
The Redbacks have added strength and height to their list and lost very little, which suggests another improvement. The key to the Redbacks is whether they can stand up, cop the whacks and get on with playing football this season. If so, Hampton Park will be a major player at the business end of the year.
Saturday’s game will likely be close but the edge is with Pakenham, which will be superconfident given that Hampton Park has never won on the wide expanses of Toomuc Reserve.
ROC begins its quest to right last year’s disappointment of missing the finals with the task of downing Devon Meadows under new mentor Wayne Briggs at Glover Reserve.
The Kangaroos, under secondyear coach Hayden Stanton, have had a quiet buildup to the season but have looked slick in their practice matches with the addition of talented younger players Ben Waite and Michael Barker.
Devon Meadows, on the other hand, has lost most of its goalkicking power from last season with the departure of Adam Jago, Rohan Best and Luke James.
It could be a hard year for the Panthers and, despite the home advantage, ROC looks likely to start the year with a comfortable victory.
Tooradin meets the youngsters from Cranbourne at Westernport Oval and the Seagulls’ coach Dan O’Loughlin will be aiming to start the season with a big win.
New Cranbourne coach Brett McMaster has openly stated his side is out to gain respect before anything and, if the Seagulls underestimate their young opponents, the game may be closer than many punters are predicting.
Neither has added significant new names to their lists. While Cranbourne will rely on full forward Marc Holt to boot its goals, the Seagulls appear to have more attacking options across the field and should start the year with a win.
In the final matchup in round one David Barnes’ Dingley will host newlook neighbour Keysborough under Paul Jefferies.
The Dingoes have had a chequered preseason with recruits few and far between and some major departures.
The Burra, on the other hand, has picked up a heap of recruits led by former AFL player Clinton King.
This game will be crucial to the confidence of both teams but Keysborough looks likely to register its first victory since 2004.
