By Tim  McGlone

 

The Bendigo Amateur Soccer League has a new look about it heading into the 2014 season, which kicks off on Sunday, with Swan Hill, Moama and Castlemaine fielding limited teams in 2014. The competition also has a new look about it with the introduction of a Final Series in 2014.

Strathdale will be aiming for back to back after storming to the 2013 title. The Blues also won the Youth and Woman’s titles in a bumper year for the club.

Having retained league best and fairest Nick Watson, the side has every opportunity to make it two in a row this year, although coach Stuart Gough is coy about his side’s chances ahead of the season:

“To be honest, we’re not shaping up as well this year as we did last year. We’ve got a few players a little underdone heading into the first week which isn’t ideal, and we’ve also lost a couple of key players in Mitch Anderson and Xavier Clayton”.

The Blues woman’s team won with the last kick of the season in 2013, and will be looking for similar successes this year.

Colts United shape as one of Strathdale’s biggest rivals for the title, with the return of former league best and fairest Dylan Callaway from injury bolstering the Strathfieldsaye based team’s squad. United have also recruited Harley Richardson from Moama, but have lose star Zac Kinsman to NPL side FC Bendigo, as well as Cal Gibson (illness) and Jake McDonald (overseas).

The Colts woman’s side won the knockout cup last season, and are in a position to mount a strong challenge for the league this year, having gone agonizingly close in 2013.

Spring Gully were strong performers in both the men’s and woman’s divisions last season, finishing third in both leagues and making both finals of the knockout cup. The woman’s team has already gone one better this year, with victory in last week’s knockout cup a good sign for the season ahead. Expect Jade De Marchi to be a key player for a strong Gully woman’s side this season.

 

Having won just two games last year, Golden City took out the BASL Knockout Cup in pre-season, and shape as one of the league’s big improvers in 2014. Coach Wayne Robertson says his team are excited about their prospects this year:

“We’ve had a good pre-season , which is  positive. This year we look like having a lot of strong players across the side, without too many stars. We’re really looking forward to the start of the season”.

Jesse Leonard-Shannon and Englishman Chris Hayden are key players for the youthful City side, and keep an eye on 16 year old Goodwill Basha, who scored in last week’s final. City’s woman, who finished 5^th last year, will also be looking to improve.

Perennial contenders Eaglehawk will be thereabouts again this season, although the loss of classy duo Keegan Smyth and Mark McGregor is a major blow for the Hawks, who finished second last year after consecutive championships. Coach Matt Schepers believes his side will be strong, despite the injuries:

“Obviously the injuries haven’t been great for us. We might be a bit hit and miss early, but I’m sure we’ll pick up during the year and then hopefully be good come finals time”.

The Borough’s woman’s side will be aiming for improvement in 2014 after slipping in recent years from second in 2011 to third in 2012, and seventh last year.

Epsom will be aiming to atone for last year’s disappointing fifth place. The Scorpians have lost midfielder Ashley Patterson, but look to have a strong squad otherwise. The Epsom woman’s team will be relying on the likes of Jacinta Steel to continue the progress made last season, when they won six games after a winless 2012.

 

Club by Club Preview (Division 1)

 

Colts United

Last year: 4th
Key Player: Dylan Callaway
One to watch: Harley Richardson
Coach: Nathan Claridge: “We were building what I thought was looking like a championship side, and then we lost a couple of key players in Zac Kinsman and Cal Gibson. We are looking pretty good though so hopefully come the season we’ll go okay”.

One of the contenders for the title in 2014. With former league best and fairest winner Dylan Callaway returning from injury, Colts look to be one of the best placed to challenge Strathdale.
Prediction: 2nd

Eaglehawk
Last year: 2^nd
Key Player: Chris Hopley 
One to watch: Dan Kelly
Coach: Matt Schepers: “We’ve been a bit hit and miss through pre-season. We might start slowly but we’ll pick up during the year and then hopefully we’ll be good come finals time”.

Perennial contenders Eaglehawk finished runners up last season and after some good pre-season form, will be thereabouts again in 2014.
Prediction: 3^rd

Epsom
Last year: 5th
Key Player: Adrian Stockwell
One to watch: Adam Crawley

Coach: Paul McClounan

Epsom like a few clubs have had a lot of changes in the off-season, and have been one of the hardest clubs hit by the introduction of FC Bendigo. But with a new Coach and some fresh new faces,  Epsom  might just be the surprise packet in 2014.

It may take time for the team to adjust with so many new faces,  but expect them to improve throughout the year.

Prediction: 6^th

Golden City
Last year: 7th
Key Player: Jesse Leonard-Shannon
One to watch: Goodwill Basha
Coach: Wayne Robertson: “We’ve had a good pre-season which has been positive. This year we look like having a lot of strong players across the side, without too many stars. We’re really looking forward to the start of the season”.

After taking out the knockout cup in pre-season, expect the youthful City side to improve on the two games that they won last year.
Prediction: 4^th

Spring Gully
Last year: 3^rd
Key Player: Joel Bish
One to watch: Alex Rothmeier
Coach: Matt Ford: “We’ve lost quite a few from last year, but we’re still hoping to be competitive. Our main focus will be on a team effort each week”.

Gully will find it hard to replace some of its key players, not least Josh Naunton, who is lining up for FC Bendigo in the NPL.
Prediction: 5th

Strathdale
Last year: Champions (1^st)
Key Player: Nick Watson
One to watch: Ben Dreschler
Coach: Stuart Gough: “To be honest, we’re not shaping up as well this year as we did last year. We’ve got a few players a little underdone heading into the first week which isn’t ideal, and we’ve also lost a couple of key players in Mitch Anderson and Xavier Clayton”. 

Despite losing key players, the Blues are coming off the back of an all-conquering season in 2013 and will be the team to beat again this season.
Prediction: 1st

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information contact BASL Operations Manager, Brock Rogers on info@basl.com.au or 0418 982 851.