EAST KEILOR v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
THIS week will provide us our first opportunity to see both these sides under their new coaches.
Pat Christofi has taken the reins at the Cougars and will have a new-look side to coach.
Christofi previously told essendondfl.com.au that up to 75 per cent of his likely best 22 is going to be made up of new players.
Bundoora premiership trio Joseph Palazzolo, Josh Grabowski and Nick Grabowski headline the ins, while highly-regarded midfielders Tom Gleeson and Matthew Knight head the outs.
The Cougars will be looking to bounce back from a difficult 2018, which was marred by injury and saw them finish sixth.
There is a lot of hype coming out of the Cougars, so it’s a matter of whether they can live up to it.
For the Lions, last season was again a case of so close, but so far, missing out on finals for a second straight year on percentage.
This year they will be led by Charles Cuzzupi, who was appointed late in the process, after Sam Tankard stepped away from the role.
Cuzzupi said early in the process that a focus on youth would be a key of his, while there are plenty of new faces at the club.
Up to 12 new faces could be part of the senior side, so it could take a while to settle and this could see them fall down the ladder.
For the new-look Lions, the first focus is to make sure they are building a program for the long-term.
WESTMEADOWS v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
While they may have finished at opposite ends of the table last season, the Westmeadows and Tullamarine rivalry is something that always has some interest.
These two sides have been two of the biggest movers in the off-season, with a number of recruits joining both teams.
The Tigers have looked to add experience to their line-up this year.
With a young playing group, Grant Smith has said they needed that experience to help take the side to the next level.
Former Maribyrnong Park coach Robbie Castello headlines the signings, which also includes former Carlton and Tullamarine player Anthony Franchina, while Mitch Church has returned to the club.
The key for the Tigers will be how their new recruits gel in the side and whether they can click early on.
Also expect to see some of their younger players flourish more, now there is some experience around them.
Having gone so close last season to claiming the Division 1 premiership, the Demons haven’t rested on their laurels.
The Demons have been busy on the recruiting front, adding the likes of Nathan Sciberras, Travis Anderson and Ethan Hope, while Blair Cronin, Anthony Liberatore and Cameron Hare have returned to the club after playing elsewhere in recent years.
With a strong list, it’s clear the Demons have their sights on the premiership and are set to be one of the teams to beat again this year.
With a match-up against another one of the premiership favourites, Craigieburn, in Round 2, it’s important for the Demons to get off to a good start.
ROXBURGH PARK v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
Here we have the two newcomers to Division 1, with the Magpies earning promotion after winning the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 title, while West Coburg has been relegated from Premier Division.
Both teams have been quiet on the recruiting front, with a big focus on youth seen as the way forward.
The Magpies have kept just about all of their premiership side, so the challenge is how they will go stepping up a level.
They would have seen how some of the most recent Division 2 premiers have struggled once going up a grade and would be hoping to have a bit more success.
Unlike those clubs, the Magpies have managed to keep the playing group together.
The likes of coach Michael Farrelly, Ferras Merhi and new recruit Jay Barbera are among the players who have played at higher levels and you would expect them to be among those who lead the way.
Having been so close to playing in Division 1 in the past, it will be interesting to see how the Magpies go now they are here.
For West Coburg, this year gives them the chance to reset under new coach, Dale May.
After being relegated, the Burgers have lost a number of key players.
May has said with the number of departures it will give the younger players at the club the opportunity to step up and fill some of those slots.
New recruits Jake De Sousa, Tom Mendico, Robert Hudson and May himself, a four-time premiership player at Strathmore, will also look to step into key roles.
Coming off four years in Premier Division, May is hoping that experience will help the side this year in its hopes to make the finals.
OAK PARK v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
These two shape up as some of the more interesting teams this season in Division 1.
The Kangaroos were disappointing last year and weren’t helped out by injuries, and it was a season to forget which ended with a loss to the winless Jacana.
They have been one of the quietest teams on the social media front ahead of season, but there appears to be changes to the playing group.
Several key players have moved across to fellow Division 1 clubs, which would be disappointing.
They’ve signed at least 10 recruits, with football manager Adam Fletcher telling Leader Newspapers that the club was in a rebuilding phase.
Justin Colliss is the biggest recruit for the Kangaroos and will be an assistant coach.
Adam Meiorin, who has been dominant in Premier Division Reserves, will add a target up forward, while Rob Tinsley and Dale Powell have also come across.
Whether the Kangaroos have recruited enough talent to bridge the gap to the top sides is the question.
Having been around the mark the last couple of years, Hillside has had a number of changes in the off-season.
They lost a few experienced players, including Mitch Church, the Drake boys and Joel Bonnici, who have been keys to their finals runs.
Football manager Darren Mantynen said having gone with basically the same group the last couple of years, there needed to be some changes to the playing group.
They’ve added a number of players to the young talent that they’ve already got on the list.
Rhys Bradley, Jake Camilleri, Stefan Dipietro, Brayden Feltham, Bevan Newell, Jacob Vella and Stephen Syme are among the signings.
Can those new players fill the gaps of those who have left and get the Sharks their first Division 1 finals win, or will 2019 be a step back for the club?
