Orbost Snowy Rovers will start its 2025 East Gippsland Football Netball League season with a home game against Paynesville this Saturday at Lochiel Park.
After a long and arduous pre-season, the Blues will head into the match confident of getting the points, building the buzz around the club which was brought about by premiership successes in thirds football and “A” grade netball.
Club officials are hopeful the flow-on effect can hold the club in good stead, ensuring a positive and proactive start to season 2025.
Saturday will see the unveiling of new recruits Keiran Vickery (Bairnsdale) and Charlie Mein who will get to take on his former Gulls team mates first up.
Mein will add a hard edge, while Vickery will add class to the side, wherever the coaching panel decide to use him.
Blues coach, Peter Seal has been happy with recent hit outs against Merimbula and Bruthen and is keen for 2025 to get underway.
“We have been working hard at what we can control and looking forward to getting out and playing for points,” Seal said.
The coach is delighted with what both Vickery and Mein bring to the table as is happy to welcome back Jacob Kane to the fold and expects the team to get some good football out of a number of emerging youngsters, who were part of that September thirds premiership.
“Bobby Bills impressed at senior level last year, Brayden Fenner is a year older and ready to take the next step, whilst Finn Donnellan hasn’t looked out of his depth over the pre-season,” Seal said.
The Blues will begin the season without Toby Herbert (university), Jacob Farley (Bairnsdale), Andy Malcolm (overseas) and Henry Vine (left the region).
Farley was impressive in last year’s thirds finals and was seen as a ready-made senior player, his pace and run was something the Blues were looking forward to injecting at senior level.
After looking likely he would play closer to Melbourne in 2025, the Blues have confirmed that one of their key players Max Welsh will suit up, which is a bonus.
A lethal combination across half back with Vickery is a distinct possibility.
It will be interesting to see what the Gulls offer up under new coach, Dave Westland, who tasted success at Bruthen and Swifts Creek.
The Blues have been up and running since late October, so expect them to keen and ready to play, Paynesville may be just the confidence booster they need to set up a memorable season.
One can expect good seasons from the same old suspects like Braeden Ross, the Nettleton brothers and Wes Russell, but it’s the progression of players like the Fenner brothers, Jordan Ross and Will Walker that will define how deep the Blues go in 2025.
Seal isn’t getting too far ahead of himself, just keen to add on last year’s effort and see where that gets the club.
“We would like to be firstly competitive,
obviously win more games than last year, which hopefully gets us into the finals,” coach Seal said.
The action kicks off at Orbost on Saturday at 12.30pm with the reserves.
