NEWS: 2017 GRFC Men’s Div 1 could see the dawning of a new era
NEXT season’s revamped GRFC Men’s Division One league is set to see the dawning of a new era, with powerhouse club and reigning Champions Deakin Ducks accepted into the FFV Metropolitan State League Five competition and the equally dominant but ageing Rangers outfit not getting any younger.
PHOTO: Dale Harris, who has previously coached at Geelong Rangers and Lara United, has been appointed the Senior Coach at the highly ambitious Barwon SC (Photo courtesy of Soccer Shots Photography, Bec Horrocks 0431 449 706)
Last year’s elite Men’s division was forced to merge with the then Division Two to create a unified 14 team competition, as a result of only five clubs being registered to compete in the highest league. It was subsequently split into a Division 1A league at the half-way mark of the season.
In 2017, the region’s showpiece Men’s competition will revert to a single 10 team division, for the first time since 2013 with the second division also set to be a 10 team competition adding to the revamped competition structure’s integrity.
Although the Ducks are still expected to field a team in Division One, it will effectively be Deakin’s third team. As such, the power base is set to change.
Added to that, last season’s Grand Finalists and 2015 champions, Geelong Rangers, is comprised of predominately players over the age of 40.
It is unclear what the make-up of Rangers’ 2017 team will be, however, with most of the newly promoted State League Two club’s crop of talented younger players set to be included in the Reserve’s squad, it’s likely the bulk of the GRFC Men’s Div 1 team will come from its veteran players yet again.
One of Rangers’ key players in recent seasons, Dale Harris, has since been appointed the Senior Coach at cross town rivals Barwon SC.
The Grovedale side has regularly figured amongst the top three in recent seasons but with ambitions of applying for State League status in 2018, the Blue and Whites are expected to set even higher on-field expectations for next season.
After qualifying for the 2015 Grand Final, Surfside Waves had a somewhat fall from grace last year, finishing in 6th spot. Another club that has entertained the idea of promotion into the State Leagues in recent times, the Ocean Grove based club will be keen to improve on their 2016 showing.
Breakwater Eagles, a once great powerhouse of the old GRFA and WVSA competitions, had an outstanding campaign last season and the rejuvenated Eagles are set to soar once again in 2017.
Other clubs to keep an eye out include newly promoted Lara United, Surf Coast – who, according to last season’s ladder positions, is the only club that will field two teams in Division One – Geelong and Barwon Heads.
The final composition of the elite competition won’t be known until early next year, but assuming a vacancy arises for a team from the second tier to step up, the highly ambitious Drysdale SC and new club FC Leopold will be keen to play amongst the big boys in 2017.
Otherwise, a mouthwatering duel for the Division Two title could be fought out in 2017 between the highly ambitious neighbours on the Geelong region’s eastern outskirts.
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