By Callum Ludwig
2022 premiers Gembrook-Cockatoo have ascended to OEFN’s Premier Division in 2023, with league newcomers Hallam and the relegated Officer welcomed and Yarra Glen dropping to Division Two.
Berwick Springs is shaping up to be a big improver in 2023 after a strong backend of the season last year and will look to set the tone against Hallam at home in round one.
The Titans finished third in 2022 and were knocked out by Gembrook-Cockatoo in the preliminary final, while the Hawks finished fourth in Division Four of the Southern Football Netball League and were also defeated in a preliminary final, well beaten by eventual premiers Lyndhurst.
Senior Outer East clubs were largely happy to welcome Hallam to the league, voting 19-3 in favour of the Hawks’ admission to the competition.
Emerald will look to give Officer a tough start to life in Division One, with the 2022 fourth-placed finishers taking the Premier Division bottom-dwellers at home.
The Bombers were defeated in an elimination final by Berwick Springs last season, while the Kangaroo’s only win in Premier Division came against Mt Evelyn.
The last time the two sides faced off was back in 2019, due to the entire and partial cancellations of the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Back then Officer thumped Emerald 10.5, 65 to 22.15, 147 in round seven and 17.14, 116 to 4.3, 27 in round 14 but personnel changes since then make it an interesting contest.
In the final match of the round, 2022 runner-up Seville welcomes a young Healesville side to the back oval in Seville, as works continue on the main surface.
The second-placed Blues will be looking to go one better in 2023 after their Grand Final loss to Gembrook-Cockatoo and are definitely the team to beat, while Healesville will look to secure the finals berth they just missed in finishing fifth and look to showcase their obvious talent more consistently.
Rounds seven and 21 last year were humbling experiences for the Bloods against the Blues, going down 29.16, 190 to 6.6 42 and 25.19, 169 to 8.4, 52 respectively but they did bookend an upset win in round 14 as Healesville toppled Seville 6.11, 47 to 4.4, 28 at home.
2022’s bottom-placed Belgrave will have the bye, looking to improve drastically on their 2022 season in which they finished without a win and were spared relegation due to Yarra Glen’s numbers troubles. The Magpies play Hallam away in round two.
