THERE are a couple of things we do know as we enter the 2021 Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 season.
Firstly, we know that Moonee Valley is a clear favourite to go one better than 2019 and win this year’s grand final come September 5.
The Fog have lost no one of note since their grand final defeat to the undefeated Sunbury Kangaroos and impressively, their long list of ins includes, potentially, up to a dozen new players who will slot nicely into their best 22.
Secondly, we know that Jacana is coming out of recess and will be looking to simply consolidate as it re-establishes itself at senior level – much in the same vein Keilor Park did two years ago.
This year won’t be about wins and losses for the Jaguars, it will be about building for 2022 and beyond.
After that, your guess is as good as ours.
The seven remaining teams are all hopeful of playing finals footy this year and of those seven, exactly how many of them are in the premiership conversation?
Local rivals Hadfield and the Northern Saints have both bolstered their line-ups throughout different stages of the 18-month layoff, but can either of them really improve that much in Season 2021?
The Saints are still going to be fielding a fairly young side, while Hadfield looms as a potential bolter after adding some key experience to its best 22.
Keilor Park may also be this year’s big improver having added a vast array of depth to its squad, but its 2021 line-up is going to look nothing like the one that struggled through 2019, so the Devils remain a bit of an unknown.
Oak Park is enjoying plenty of renewed optimism under new coach Todd Clark with some former guns returning to the club and most of the core 2019 group staying intact.
Any club coming down from Division 1 would normally expect to fare well in Division 2 and such expectations will apply to the Kangaroos, but until we see how they go in the early rounds, we won’t know for sure just how good they are.
Both Burnside Heights and Coburg Districts will again be among those vying for a finals berth, but can either take another big step and get to Windy Hill in September?
The Lions are always thereabouts and haven’t lost too much from their 2019 core group, while the Bears have finally come of age and are feeling good about themselves following a preliminary final berth two years ago.
Finally we have East Sunbury, perhaps the most intriguing prospect of the division coming into 2021.
The Thunder dazzled us with their flare and exuberance on their way to the grand final in 2018 but fell away significantly in 2019.
Yes, they’ve lost their reigning best-and-fairest, but Glenn Hopkins still has a very good squad at his disposal and with a kind run of injuries, East Sunbury should be entering every single game believing it can win, which is a very dangerous prospect for everyone else.
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