Goulburn Valley League football - Fresh faces to ignite season

By Tyler Maher

Mar 9, 2021

The question on all lips heading into the past few Goulburn Valley League football seasons has been consistent.

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Can anyone beat Kyabram?

The Bombers have been comfortably the best team of the past decade and will again prove tough to jostle from the top of the table.

Not only have they retained most of their list under coaching duo Brad Edwards and Mick Mattingly, the Bombers have added midfield guns Zac Keogh and Kaine Herbert.

It gives the rest of the competition plenty of chasing to do heading into the campaign.

The teams doing that legwork have all the confidence in their ability to hit the line first though.

Rochester under Steve Stroobants will be a huge threat — not only because it has added ex-AFL talent Logan Austin and Joe Atley.

The Tigers will enjoy the focal-point Stroobants provides in attack and will look to their mentor to do the bulk of their scoring if the right match-up presents itself.

Echuca will challenge again, even though a few key cogs have moved on from Victoria Park.

The loss of Tim Allan and Dan Willis could reshape the structure of the Murray Bombers — but with the likes of Ben Reid coming into the side it will still be one of the strongest in the league.

Euroa, Benalla and Tatura have recruited well and will be looking to take the next step this season.

The Magpies especially look dangerous on paper, adding a swathe of stars to their list headlined by former Collingwood VFL captain Jack Hellier.

Mooroopna, Shepparton, Shepparton Swans and Shepparton United have not entered a campaign on such assumed level-pegging in a number of years, and the life it will breathe into their already fierce rivalries is reason to be excited.

The quartet will all push for finals action, but with only six post-season spots up for grabs may not all squeeze in.

Seymour will rely on the depth strong reserves and thirds squads in 2019 gave it after the loss of some stars at the top end, while Mansfield will have a point to prove after undergoing plenty of change in between matches.

GOULBURN VALLEY LEAGUE PAST PREMIERS:

2019: Kyabram

2018: Shepparton

2017: Kyabram

2016: Kyabram

2015: Benalla

2014: Shepparton Swans

2013: Kyabram

2012: Tatura

2011: Shepparton United

2010: Shepparton United

PAST MORRISON MEDALLISTS