There’s no denying some disparity in the Picola District Football League’s ranks.
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Geographical disparity, to be more specific.
It’s clear that the sides positioned a bit closer to home - Moira Shire outfits the likes of Strathmerton and Waaia - have had a huge edge on the ovals of Picola competition.
This has resonated at individual level too; the top five vote-getters in last season’s Pearce Medal best and fairest count belonged to Tungamah, Katunga, Katandra (third and fourth) and Katamatite, respectively.
The question, then, is a clear-cut one: what can more distant sides do to get back in the premiership race?
Picola United is the first port of call, having been one of two non-local finals finishers.
The Blues’ generally sturdy defence was by no means the issue, boasting a conceded tally comparable to some of the top contenders.
Bringing in former junior Jai Morrison after two years away and poaching Archie Congues and Jared Laffy away from Nathalia were encouraging signs, and one would expect Picola to figure there and thereabouts in finals contention again.
Jerilderie is the other side shooting for a repeat knockout berth after scraping home on percentage from Deniliquin Rovers, and the Riverina outfit has pulled off likely the biggest coup anywhere in the league for season 2025.
The Demons are welcoming former Melbourne and Carlton AFL star Jeff Garlett into the fold, boasting over 300 goals at the elite level and a leading goalkicker award at both of those clubs.
It’s an enormous marquee pickup as the Western Australian Wheatbelt native brings a near-unparalleled wealth of knowledge out to the purple, green and red outfit.
Those aforementioned Rovers have been busy bodies on the recruiting front, unleashing a wave of new arrivals right at the beginning of pre-season.
Headlining the inclusions are a pair of Fitzroy Stars signees in the forms of 2014 Rumbalara flag winner Ryan Hudson and one-time Coburg VFL player Rivva Karpany among a swathe of moves which appear primed to keep the Rovers in the conversation.
Next in the race is Berrigan - and have the Saints ever bolstered themselves.
In addition to welcoming luckless brothers Archie and Max Cameron back into the fold following a pair of season-long injuries, Berrigan has scooped a raft of former talents back into the red, white and black including La Trobe premiership player Tom Whelan.
Mathoura got a large chunk of its transfer business done prior to the festive break, committing two one-time Timbercutters to don their old colours: Calum Lindberg and Hay’s James Eddy.
It’s been an off-season of great turnover at Tocumwal, with the border-based Bloods completing a plentiful haul of deals capped with the inclusion of Brayden Hall, described by the club’s social media as ‘one of the region’s premier backmen’, to offset a sizeable list of outgoings.
2024 grand final host Rennie has made just the single acquisition since that big day, but it’s one of sentimental value as Marcus Hargreaves comes from nearby Yarrawonga to follow in the footsteps of his elder brothers.
Finally, Blighty has made a move for 2025 by picking up utility player Jordan Priestley out of the successful Moama setup.
