The recruitment of several high-level players across Picola District Football Netball League is set to result in an entertaining season.
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Headlining the ins are Katamatite duo Sam Wright and Joel Tippett, who bring AFL experience to the league having played for North Melbourne.
There is a host of Goulburn Valley League players too, with Katandra, which returns to the league, the home to 10 of them, including 2018 premiership player Jonty Wardle.
Tungamah will also return from Murray Football League and after making finals in the higher level in 2019, it too will be expected to be competing at the pointy end.
Reigning premier Strathmerton will head into 2021 as the hunted and with a similar squad to what won it the 2019 title, you can add it to the list of premiership fancies as well.
Strathmerton will also be looking to defend its A-grade netball title.
Nipping at its heels will be Katunga, which lost a preliminary final last start, Katamatite, which is hoping a better run with injuries will allow it to improve from 2019's sixth position and of course Picola, which is looking for revenge after losing the 2019 grand final.
Yarroweyah is as fit as ever, according to A-grade coach Bec Demaio, and Waaia is looking to improve from its seventh-placed finish in 2019.
Then you throw in the competition's two newest sides — Tungamah and Katandra — and this season's premiership could go anywhere.
The problem is, there's only room for eight football sides and eight netball teams to play-off in September and, while it's hard to tip a clear favourite, you can bet some teams will be bitterly disappointed not to be a part of the finals action at season's end.
PICOLA DISTRICT FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE PAST PREMIERS:
2019: Football: Strathmerton Netball: Strathmerton
2018: Rennie and Deniliquin2017 NW: Picola United and Tocumwal
2017 SE: Rennie and Katunga
2016 NW: Picola United and Tocumwal
2016 SE: Shepparton East and Katunga
2015 NW: Strathmerton and Tocumwal
2015 SE: Tungamah and Katunga
2014 NW: Jerilderie and Strathmerton
2014 SE: Tungamah and Katandra
PAST PEARCE MEDALLISTS
2019: John Woodcock (Katamatite)
2018: Ash Thompson (Waaia) and Mark Ryan (Picola United)
2017 NW: Jed Brain (Blighty)
2017 SE: Bodhi Butts (Tungamah)
2016 NW: Andrew May (Deni Rovers) and Dave Daniel (Picola United)
2016 SE: Matt Rendina (Shepparton East), Eamon Reeves (Katunga) and Matt McCarty (Waaia)
2015 NW: Paul Massingham (Berrigan)
2015 SE: Matt McCarty (Waaia) and Nick Doyle (Tungamah)
2014 NW: Andrew May (Jerilderie)
2014 SE: Luke Minogue (Katandra) and Tyson Saunders (Katamatite)
LADDER PREDICTION
Football
1. Katamatite
2. Strathmerton
3. Berrigan
4. Waaia
5. Katandra
6. Tungamah
7. Picola United
8. Deniliquin
9. Jerilderie
10. Rennie
11. Mathoura
12. Yarroweyah
13. Katunga
14. Tocumwal
15. Blighty
Netball
1. Katunga
2. Deniliquin Rovers
3. Strathmerton
4. Picola
5. Katamatite
6. Tungamah
7. Katandra
8. Tocumwal
9. Waaia
10. Jerilderie
11. Blighty
12. Mathoura
13. Berrigan
14. Yarroweyah
15. Rennie
Sports journalist