William Buck Premier Men’s 2022 Season Preview

Joe Pignataro

By the time the ball is bounced on Saturday, we will have waded through 245 days, a fourth lengthy Victorian lockdown, another AFL Grand Final interstate and the second longest pre-season for all VAFA clubs in consecutive years.

That being said, the buzz and excitement around VAFA football being back is palpable and our William Buck Premier clubs are itching to get out on the park and kick the footy in earnest.

As always, the pre-season crystal ball gets run, and as per the official rules around using predictions, if they’re proven correct, they’ll be rehashed at a later date. If not, the pages of history are never released again.

Let’s take a look at how the 2022 VAFA William Buck Premier season will, or won’t play out.

Old Xaverians
2021 Finish: 1st | 9 wins, 2 losses | 169.33%

The men from Toorak Park were well on their way in 2021 finishing top of the table on a 6-game winning streak when the season was abandoned.

Marcus Stavrou (2021 Woodrow Medallist) has been reappointed as captain. Joined by Michael Batten (15 goals in 2021) and Cauley Beetham as vice-captains.

Tom Anderson is heading to the GVL while Jason Holmes is going home to America. Campbell Lane, Charlie MacIsaac and Joseph Ayton-Delaney are aligned with VFL clubs and given their talents expect to see them playing higher honours this year.

In recruiting coups that the “Xav’s mafia” often find themselves part of, former Tiger and Blue Shaun Hampson will fill the ruck role left by Holmes, while Aaron Vandenberg has chosen Toorak Park to be his new home.

The #1 ranked side for scoring in 2021 will be looking to replicate their opening season defeat of St Bernard’s this year when they face off for the Gary McAllister Trophy.

St Kevin’s
2021 Finish: 2nd | 9 wins, 2 losses | 147.01%

The biggest shock of the off-season came when they announced the coaching change that sees club legend Anthony “Plugga” Lynch spinning the magnets for the Skobbas this season.

On-field they’ve had a whole off-season to think about how they finished the abandoned season with a 3-point loss to Old Brighton and will be aiming to get off to the best possible start when they face Old Melburnians on Saturday.

There’s been dramatic change to the playing list since they last stepped onto the park with Nick Wood, Josh Wallis, Harry Lagastes, Ethan Phillips, Riley Bowman, Sam Barnett, Matt Arnott and Jarrad Waite all playing footy elsewhere in 2022.

Oliver Hanrahan has nominated St Kevin’s as his club but is likely to spend regular time in the VFL with Werribee, as is Jarrad Cachia with North Melbourne. Josh Tynan (former Melbourne/VFL) joins the club along with Ben Mansfield & Goy Lok (VFL – Sandringham), Sam Tucker (VFL – Richmond)..

There’ll be a lot of eyes on St Kevin’s to see if they can maintain a spot in the top 4 for a 5th Premier season in a row.

Old Brighton
2021 Finish: 3rd | 8 wins, 3 losses | 117.47%

There were sparks of brilliance from the Tonners in 2021, and moments where fans of the club had heads in their hands. Regardless, they’re a must-watch team under coach Greg Hutchison.

Harry Hill will continue to accumulate disposals at will. Hamish Dick, when he’s not playing VFL football is a speedster across the wing and cult-figure Anthony Zimmerman has a flair about him which excites many when he gets the ball around goal.

Will Lewis topped the shortened season goal kicking tally with 33 that included a bag of 9. When he’s on-song, he’s almost impossible to stop. Although opposition clubs might be hoping he takes up a regular spot in the VFL leaving opposition coaches with one less headache.

The core group has lost a few regular starters with Ben Jakobi, Josh Le Grice, Cal Wellings all going elsewhere but the biggest loss is the possession king Nick Pavlou, it’ll be a fascinating watch how they replace him but if it all comes together for them, they’re going to be hard to stop in 2022.

Caulfield
2021 Finish: 4th | 7 wins, 4 losses | 116.70%

For 34 years they carried the monkey of being without a win in A-Grade, when the Fields broke that drought after 3 rounds last year, they went on a tearaway 7 game winning streak and sent a message to the rest of the competition that said in bold letters “we belong” 

After a season of the twin towers up forward which netted 49 goals between Brett Eddy and Julian Dobosz, the Tasmanian will play a lone hand up forward as Eddy moves to the Gippsland Footy League, the club has also farewelled club legends Tim Nixon and Will Osborn retiring at seasons end.

What the Fields proved last year under Simon Williams is that if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. A team full to the brim with confidence when Will Edwards is running through the centre, Lachie Stephens snooping around goal, Peterson and McClelland down in defence.

There’s genuine winners on every line, and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see them participate in this year’s finals series.

University Blues
2021 Finish: 5th | 6 wins, 5 losses | 91.51%

Things didn’t go to plan at all for the “reigning premiers” leading into the 2021 season. While there was significant change last year, they never seemed to get the game on their terms despite the strength of the playing group.

One of the VAFA’s most successful coaches, Guy Martyn was snapped up by the Blues within days of parting ways with St Kevin’s and by all reports has already set about stamping his print on the game plan.

The biggest blow is the loss of Marshall Rippon who leaves them with a significant hole to fill. The inclusion of Marty Gleeson (Essendon), Matt Crocker (SANFL), Will Carrington (Old Scotch) and Jeremy Goddard (Old Melburnians) will add defensive structure, experience and plenty of on-field voice.

Knowing the passion that captain Ayce Cordy likes to invoke on his teammates, the expectation is they have a much more consistent season and get back to strong opening quarter starts. Don’t be surprised if they get back to kicking scores each week that would challenge their dominance of 2019.

Old Melburnians
2021 Finish: 6th | 5 wins, 6 losses | 107.46%

It’s going to be fascinating to watch how OM’s attack the opening month of the season. It’s arguably the toughest start to the season with St Kevins (2nd in 2021), Caulfield (4th) and Old Xavier (1st) in their opening 3 weeks.

Last year it was all about Ed Nicholls who claimed the Mecwacare men’s rising star again, as well as the added speed of the Haysman boys on the wide expanses of Elsternwick Park.

Coach Paul Satterly and his group of assistants have had the task of finding on-field replacements for Sean Hetherington (EDFL), Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith (EDFL) and Jeremy Goddard (Uni Blues) while Sam Dunnell, Tom Cameron and Nathan Drummond are all aligned with VFL clubs in 2021.

As the members of the For the Love of the Game podcast have said over many years, if OM’s can win the games they’re expected to win, and pinch a couple of unexpected victories, it’ll go a long way to seeing them push for a spot in the top 4.

St Bernard’s
2021 Finish: 7th | 5 wins, 6 losses | 98.34%

Most people are expecting this report to have St Bernard’s going through the season undefeated. Those expectations are spot on! It’s going to be tough to see them losing a game all season.

But to be measured for a moment, there’s the dawn of a new era at the snakepit in 2022. Mitch Hughes takes over from Simon Caven as captain, the club goes in with its youngest squad in over 15 years. A new-look coaching team under Paul Groves has been solidified over the off-season and there’s a bullishness from members of the St Bernard’s community.

And what better way to test themselves than against the best with the 2021 ladder leaders Old Xaverians, into the 2019 premiers Uni Blues in round 2.

Old Scotch
2021 Finish: 8th | 3 wins, 8 losses | 66.42%

Despite the abandoned season of 2021, it was a good taste-test for Mark Gnatt and Old Scotch as to what the expectations are, coming into the Premier grade. Players like Aidan Franetic, Andrew Jelbart flourish in the contest every week, and one expects another lengthy pre-season will see them go to another level.

Ryan Valentine, Harry Stubbings, Mack Rivett, Tom Downie, Charlie Cormack are all aligned with VFL clubs this year and may well bounce between the 2 sides as the year unfolds.

Will Carrington is off to University Blues and faces off against his old side in the opening round, a handy welcome back to “the cave” is on offer for him!

Former Hawk, James Cousins has joined the side this year. Scotch were ranked 10th for attack in 2021, one area they’ll have been keen to address during the off-season.

Collegians
2021 Finish: 9th | 2 wins, 9 losses | 77.52%

The Lions were on the back foot for much of last year, every week Jared Rivers faced another set of injuries, and changes to the line up.

They did hold the favourite story of the year with “Big John Meesen” joining the club as the assistant coach, taking up a regular starting role as the first ruckman each week due to the lack of talls available.

Despite the story of Meesen, he has hung up the boots this year. Along with Kalem Post, Tom Sheridan, Tom Penberthy, Zander Croft and Al Fahie.  There’ll be wholesale change to the line up.

This year they’ll be hoping for consistency in the side with Ed Greene joining the side. There’s an expectation there’ll be more games out of Kenny Ong, two youngsters on VFL lists in Ben Woodfull and Kobi George.

The good news for trackwatchers is Sam Hibbins, Viv Michie and Josh Prudden are all fit and ready to go. And what will be a great story is the return of Ben Darrou in the latter part of the season after a debilitating back injury through 2021.

Old Trinity
2021 Finish: 10th | 1 win, 10 losses | 58.01%

It was a year of lean pickings for Old Trinity in 2021. A coaching change midway through the year saw Bernie Dineen part ways with the club.

A new coaching staff has been put in place, led by Jamie Cassidy-McNamara running the coaching program with Tim Broomhead assisting. The club sees significant on-field change with retirements of club legends Luke Pacconi, Gabe Hamilton and Ben Howell.

Charlie & Hugh Beasley are likely to be regulars in the VFL, while Anthony Larkey is also likely to use that lethal long bomb at higher levels too.

One on-field inclusion could see former GWS Giant and Demon, Dom Tyson play with the T’s after nominating them as his feeder club for 2022. A sight that will excite the true believers of the green and gold.

2022 PREDICTIONS

Final 4: Old Xavier, Old Brighton, Caulfield Grammarians, University Blues

Premiers: Old Xaverians

Woodrow Medal: Dave Mirra (Collegians)

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