From back left are Lorne midfielder Sean Smartt, Irrewarra-Beeac co-captain Jaden Angus, Simpson co-captain Daniel Mason, Forrest’s Tom Anderson and Alvie’s Andre Delorenzo. Front, from left, are Colac Imperials skipper Steve Parker, Western Eagles’ Matt Kenny, South Colac captain Jake O’Dwyer, Birregurra premiership forward Nick Lynch and Otway Districts’ Leigh Mahoney.
COLAC district footballers have predicted last year’s grand finalists South Colac and Birregurra will face off again in the 2012 premiership decider.
The Colac Herald surveyed players from each of the 11 CDFL clubs ahead of tomorrow’s season opener, and nine players expected to see the Saints and the Roos reach the big show for a second consecutive year.
Colac Herald readers agreed with the prediction in an online poll at colacherald.com.au this week, with South Colac, 28 per cent of the votes, and Birregurra, 17 per cent, the hot favourites to win the flag.
Simpson and Lorne, who finished third and fourth last season, were the outside selections for the grand final with one vote each from players.
Players expected Otway Districts to improve this season with five players tipping them to earn a place in the top five, after the Demons finished seventh last season under new coach Adam Harris.
Birregurra was the only team that every player expected to play finals footy with 10 votes, while they think South Colac, nine, Simpson, seven, Lorne, five, and Forrest, five, could return after reaching September action in 2011.
The Roos look set to take out the league’s individual honours with spearhead Ben Cox earning half the votes to win the leading goal-kicker award for the second year in a row, despite the return of three-time century goalkicker Christian Kelly to the league.
Kelly finished top of table two seasons ago with 104 majors, while playing alongside Cox at Alvie.
Pacey Roos midfielder Dave Marendaz was the only player to receive more than one vote for the Jack Mahoney medal, with no one expecting last year’s winners Cam Wright of Birregurra and Forrest’s Dean Calcedo to go back to back.
The players said to keep an eye on last ,season’s wooden spoon winner Apollo Bay with the Hawks shaping up to be the league’s big improver this season.
The Hawks have recruited 15 new and old faces who will don the brown and gold jumper under new coach Tyson Holt this year.
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Tags: Football
