THREE blockbusters headline the opening round of Casey Cardinia League football this week with anticipation of a crackerjack season growing by the day.
Narre Warren, under new coach Aussie Jones, will play a rejuvenated Berwick in the care of another former AFL star in Ronnie Burns in a game that could well break all attendance records at the Fox Road ground.
The Magpies pulled off the coup of the pre-season by signing Jones, who was possibly the biggest name to leave the AFL last year. He has eased his way into the coaching job and spent the practice matches watching his team and developing a game plan that the Narre Warren faithful hope will see the club take the final step to premiership glory.
Berwick also went on to the front foot with the acquisition of Burns, together with a number of recruits led by experienced key forward John McNamara.
Spearhead George Gorozidis is fit and the Wickers’ list is top-notch, so a finals berth is certainly on the cards.
However, the Magpies have great depth and, with assistant coach Brett Evans and 100-goal full forward Lee Clark leading the charge in front of a huge crowd, the home side should start the year off on the right note.
The second big clash will be between Pakenham and Hampton Park at Toomuc Reserve.
A good start to the season is crucial for both clubs in terms of confidence for the rest of the season and Redback’s coach Jason Chapple knows that this year the opposition will be out to stop his fast-improving side.
Hampton Park has added strength and height to its list and lost very little, which suggests another improvement is likely. The key to the Redbacks is whether they can concentrate on playing football rather than trying to square up if one of their team mates cops some rough treatment.
That is a ploy used by many opposition coaches to unsettle Chapple’s team and if they can overcome it, Hampton Park will be a major player at the business end of the year.
The Lions have lost some good young talent, but added experience and class in Jared Goldsack, together with brothers Joe and Jack Allen and exciting Gippsland Power forward Nathan Lieshout.
The edge in Saturday’s game will be with Pakenham, which will be super confident given that Hampton Park has never won on the wide expanses of Toomuc Reserve.
The third major drawcard will take place at the Perc Alison Reserve when Beaconsfield, under new coach Haydn Robins, hosts undefeated 2005 premiers Doveton.
Doveton is the benchmark of the league and despite the loss of Danny Casset, will be as tough to beat as ever after the return of Peter Greenstreet and Shannon Clarke, together with new recruit Peter Davenport.
Beaconsfield has had a changing of the guard with the departure of several premiership players including Kane Airdrie, Ben Collins, Ross Jackson and Troy Cashman.
The Eagles are always a difficult prospect at the home thanks to their terrific midfield but scoring options could be a problem this year and Doveton should start 2006 on a winning note.
ROC begins its second season in the competition with the testing task of downing Devon Meadows under new mentor Wayne Briggs at the Glover Reserve.
The Kangaroos, in the care of second year coach Hayden Stanton, have looked very 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 goal-kicking 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 ground advantage, ROC is tipped to start the year with a comfortable victory.
Tooradin meets the young Cranbourne team at the Westernport oval and Seagulls’ coach Dan O’Loughlin will be aiming to start the season with a big win.
New Cranbourne coach Brett McMaster has stated that his side is out to gain respect before anything else and if the Seagulls underestimate his team, the game may be closer than many are predicting.
Neither team 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 off with a win.
The final match-up in round one will see David Barnes’ Dingley host new-look neighbours Keysborough under Paul Jefferies.
The Dingoes have had a chequered pre-season 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, South Adelaide star Michael Davis and former Noble Park gun Stuart Nagle.
This game will be crucial to the confidence of both teams, but Keysborough looks likely to register its first victory since 2004.
