Omnia   

malleeflThe Mallee Football League fires up in 2015 with a very different set up compared to last season with only 5 teams.

In the off season we have seen Beulah and Hopetoun amalgamate to form the new Southern Mallee Giants and Jeparit Rainbow has transferred to the Horsham and District Football. These changes to the make-up of the League have meant a reshuffling of the draw but all competing Clubs are confident that they will give a strong showing in 2015.

The Mallee Football League Board is now under the leadership of Michael Brown who is President and Anita McFarlane is the General Manager.

The Speed Days Mallee Football League will commence on Saturday 11th April when Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers will unfurl their premiership flag against the Southern Mallee Giants at Sea Lake and Walpeup Underbool will be at home to Ouyen United. Woomelang Lascelles will have the bye.

This season will consist of 20 rounds of football plus 3 weekends of finals which will conclude on the 19th September with the Grand Final. The Mallee Football League Board has decided that they would not participate in the AFLVic Worksafe Championship interleague game this season and the League will not be play on Anzac Day. Each Club will have 4 byes during the season.

Walpeup Underbool will this year be coached by Shane Birss who has been at West Adelaide. Shane will be assisted by Chris Vorwerk, who will be in charge of training at Underbool. The Roos have gained the services of Ben Fisher and Ryan Anderson who return to the club after time at West Adelaide and Brad Dabrowski joins the Roos from the Goodwood Saints. Luke Coates and Keegan Keely return after time away and Nathan Bramfit comes to the club from Woomelang Lascelles. The Roos will be there abouts this year and should be an improver.

Southern Mallee Giants will be coached by non playing coach Geoff Burdett who has been around for many years, originally coming from Hopetoun where he coached. The Giants have signed Kain Robins from Mt Pleasant while Clint Burdett, Shane Widdle and Luke Mahoney will join the new Club this season. Losses appear to be from the Beulah side with Dennis Redden, Andrew Hughes, Callum Buchanan, Tim McIntosh, Tim Darcy, Sam Martin, Brad Shannon, Hayden and Michael Farrelly all departing. We will have to wait and see what the amalgamate side will produce and after a few rounds the strength of Giants should emerge.

On Thursday 9th April, Kevin Sheedy will be at Hopetoun to launch the new Southern Mallee Giants season and present players with their jumpers.

Woomelang Lascelles are to be coached by Josh Davies and Jayden Lonergan. The Cats have recruited Piece Liddle who returns from the Northern Territory, Trent Donnan and Jack Landrigan will also join the Cats. The Cats have held most last years team but have lost brothers Corey and Nyubura Kelly, Chris McMahon, Tim Hanns and Ryan Merritt. The Cats are quietly confident of having a good competitive season.

Leading the way this year at Ouyen United is Andrew Jardine in the seniors, Fel Cua in the Reserves, Dom Leach – Under 16's, Jason Scott – Under 13's and Pete Caldow and Todd Barker will Co-ordinate the Auskick. With a couple of players departing this year the Demons welcome the return of last year locals Dean Jardine, Kale Barker and Todd Barker who were out injured last season and have all been training well and look fresh from the year off.

The Demons have been very quiet but it is believed that they have been successful in recruiting players from Darwin and have made a number of signings. The Demons have lost Ben Gregg but have been playing their cards close to their chest. Expect the Demons to be very competitive after the first few weeks.

The club is excited about the number of juniors coming through the grades in both football and netball this year. The standard of talent has already shown on the training track and the numbers have been impressive.

Ouyen United is looking forward to a fantastic season across all grades and will showcase the development and commitment of junior football and netball within the Mallee Football League during round 3 when they take on the Southern Mallee Giants on May 2nd. This round will see all senior grades of Football and Netball starting 30 Minutes earlier to allow the Under 16's and JNR A and B to be played as a twilight match under lights from approx. 5.30pm in a Mallee first.

In addition to what could be hailed as the reunion of the century, Ouyen United is pleased to be hosting an original Mallee Football League reunion on August 1st. With teams and opponents from the original MFL expected to be in attendance, no doubt there will be many a tale told and stories stretched over the weekend.

2015 for Ouyen United will be about building and developing skills, enjoying each other's company both on and off the field and to make sure we have a strong and healthy future.

Last years premiers, Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers, are being coached by Col Durie and Jason Collins. The Tigers have been very quiet but have returning players in Scott Weekley, Joel Lloyd and Steven Peters. New recruits to the Club include Bernard Rigby and Brad Collins. The Tigers have lost Darcy Ryan, John Guthrie and James Summerhayes but the Tigers shouldl be the benchmark of the League this season. The Tigers are looking forward to being competing in a very strong Mallee Football League.

In summary all Mallee teams have recruited well and are all looking towards a very successful season of football in what should be a very evenly contested season.