By Marcus Uhe
Club: Narre Warren
2022: 15-1 (1st). Premiers of Outer East Football Netball League Premier Division.
Coach: Shane Dwyer.
Captain: Jake Richardson.
Coaching panel: Phil Cipriani, Stephen Kidd, Kurt Mutimer.
Ins: Brad Scalzo (Injury), Matt Butera (Noble Park), Ryan Quirk (Bunyip), Aaron Crichton (Noble Park).
Outs: Josh Tonna (Retirement), Hayden Stagg (Berwick Springs), Matthew Soroczynski (Wodonga).
10 to watch: Jake Richardson, Tom Miller, Kurt Mutimer, Tom Toner, Joel Zeitsman, Lachlan Benson, Will Howe, Brad Scalzo, Jarrod Smith, Peter Gentile.
Home ground: Kalora Park.
What constitutes a dynasty? Back-to-back premierships? Three in a row?
If anyone would know, it’s the Magpies.
Between 2006 and 2013, Narre Warren won six premierships, stamping themselves as a powerhouse in grassroots footy.
Having won the last two completed seasons of footy in the Outer East competition, with the interruptions of 2020 and 2021 resulting in no flags being awarded, you could make the case that they’re on their way to establishing another.
Not only did the senior side add to the trophy cabinet after losing just once during the season, but the reserves tasted the ultimate glory too, making for celebrations aplenty at Kalora Park, and reflecting a frightening amount of depth at Shane Dwyer’s disposal.
Key players, including two of the best in last year’s decider, in Josh Tonna and Hayden Stagg have both left the club, but with a number of players pushing for senior selection from their reserves, the competition to fill those spots is fierce.
Brad Scalzo will be one name putting himself right in the mix for a spot on the ball, having handed back the assistant coach’s polo shirt from his time on the sidelines with a knee injury in 2022.
Meanwhile a strong crop of players from the under-19 list, who fell just short of a spot in the 2022 grand final after finishing second on the ladder, has injected enthusiasm and fresh energy.
Solid hit outs in practice games, including a night fixture against the best-of-the-best that the Southern Football Netball League has to offer in Cranbourne, and Eastern Football Netball League’s Norwood, has Dwyer confident that they have warned-off any signs of complacency.
“They’ve been able to adapt to the way these teams have been playing and try to slow down their momentum,” he said.
“Saturday was a really good sign and I think now that we’re into it, once you get into the practice match side of things, the numbers get better at training and what not.
“I think we’re on top of that (complacency), especially in the senior group.
“The reserves group is super young, so I don’t think there’d be any of them there, to be honest.”
It’s hard to imagine Kalora Park being anything other than a tough place to play footy again in 2023.
Fixture:
Round 1: Saturday 15 April v Pakenham (Away)
Round 2: Saturday 29 April v Wandin (Away)
Round 3: Saturday 6 May v Monbulk (Home)
Round 4: Saturday 13 May v Bye
Round 5: Saturday 20 May v Gembrook Cockatoo (Away)
Round 6: Saturday 27 May v Olinda (Home)
Round 7: Saturday 3 June v Mt Evelyn (Away)
Round 8: Saturday 17 June v Upwey Tecoma (Home)
Round 9: Saturday 24 June v Woori Yallock (Away)
Round 10: Saturday 1 July v Pakenham (Away)
Round 11: Saturday 8 July v Wandin (Home)
Round 12: Saturday 15 July v Monbulk (Away)
Round 13: Saturday 22 July v Bye
Round 14: Saturday 29 July v Gembrook Cockatoo (Home)
Round 15: Saturday 5 August v Olinda (Away)
Round 16: Saturday 12 August v Upwey Tecoma (Away)
Round 17: Saturday 19 August v Mt Evelyn (Home)
Round 18: Saturday 26 August v Woori Yallock (Home)
