Recruit Ryan Pendlebury will be an important addition as St Mary’s begins a new era following the departure of significant experience in the off-season.
Most recently the coach of Goulburn Valley club Euroa, Pendlebury played 83 games at VFL level part of an extensive playing history that includes stints in the Northern Territory.
Pendlebury, an assistant to non-playing co-coaches Ben Boseley and Luke Rayner, says he will play in the area of the ground he’s overseeing.
“There’s more defence stuff, so I’ll just play behind the ball,” told K rock’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“It’s a little bit easier to see what’s going on.
“That’s traditionally where I’ve played… definitely at the higher levels anyway, and then a little bit of mid(field) stuff at country footy.
“But, predominantly, I assume I’ll be behind the ball.”
Pendlebury is one of three first-gamers named by the Saints for its meeting with Geelong West at Anthony Costa Oval.
Jordi Robertson has been selected on a wing, and under-18s graduate Oliver Flynn is part of an extended bench.
Livewire forward Paddy Dowling and versatile big man Trent McMullan are also part of the squad for their first games in navy blue and green since 2023.
The Giants, who have also been subject to their own exodus of quality,
Under-18 graduates Isaac Bedggood and Tom Handley, Ollie Maddalena (Torquay), Rory Parnell (Albury), Bailey Harvey (Lara), Noah Allen (Colac Imperials), Charlie Hall (St Joseph’s) and August Stelma (Gisborne) will all pull on the orange and charcoal at GFNL senior level for the first time.
Lara will unveil former North Melbourne forward Majak Daw, among several new faces, for its meeting with St Albans at St Albans Reserve.
The 34-year-old, who played 54 AFL games for the Roos, has been named at full-forward for the Cats.
Fellow newcomers include Darby Henderson (Williamstown), Jai Grayling, Majok Bol (St Albans – EDFL), Tom Parker (Newcomb/Heathmere), Lachie Grima (Werribee Districts), Isaac Fulton-Grover (Werribee Districts), Stan Brentnall (Uni Blues), and William Nicholls (Geelong West)
Nicholls is the son of former Hawthorn and Richmond AFL player Billy.
New coach Brett Henderson will also debut teenager Max Chambers, who, like Nicholls, is first year out of under-16s.
The Supersaints, who will be led for the first time by Rick Munn, have numerous new faces.
Former St Joseph’s midfielder Jed Warrin will pull on the black and white for the first time, along with Nic Clarke (Clunes), Blake Hodgson (Grovedale), Tom Higgins (Wickham Wolves), Point Cook pair Koby Harris and Jim Botsaris, and Lucas Gray.
Northern Bullants-listed Sam Donegan couldn’t be considered, nor could injured recruit Matt Kasparian.
After an offseason of turmoil, North Shore faces the daunting task of facing Colac at Central Reserve to open its season.
Declan Clark (Barwon Heads), Ryder Cerny (Pimpinio), Rayden Clarke (North Geelong), Marlon Hampshire (St Joseph’s), Max West (Bell Post Hill), Ben Collier (Geelong West) former Lorne duo Ethan Huxtable and Oscar McCausland (Lorne), and Torquay products Grady Clifford and Finn Murphy will pull on the blue and gold for the first time.
Jack Skinner will take his place for the Tigers despite having to appear before the AFL Barwon Tribunal next week.
Brothers Leigham and Jaxon Elzinga will make their GFNL debuts for South Barwon in the John Nankervis Shield clash against Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve.
A former Swans junior, Leigham returns to McDonald Reserve after a stint at GDFNL club Bannockburn, resulting in eight Talent League appearances for the Geelong Falcons.
Jaxon has also crossed from the Tigers, where he debuted at senior level as a 16-year-old last year.
The Elzinga brothers are the sons of the late North Shore premiership player Troy.
However, boom off-season recruit Josh Corbett hasn’t been named, with the former Fremantle and Gold Coast forward unlikely to be seen until after the bye at the end of May.
Geelong VFL duo Paddy Kelly and Todd White have been made available by the Cats, who have the week off.
Ed Adams (Shepparton United), Liam Jardine (Kerang), Jack Caia (Katandra) and Tom Moloney (Winchelsea) are the new faces for the Tigers.
Moloney’s GDFNL Blues teammate Leigh Ellis has returned to the club, while Jas Lang has earned a senior debut as he prepares for his second season for Grovedale.
The Tigers could not consider veteran ruck Ryan Abbott, who is unavailable.
Newtown & Chilwell has named GWS Giants VFL-listed midfielder Perry Lewis-Smith for its meeting with Bell Park at Elderslie Reserve.
Matty Lloyd has also been made available by Sydney, while the Eagles have also included captain Luke Maddock after he served a one-match suspension, and Torquay recruit Archer Harkness.
They replace Liam Nash, Alex Dunn, Jett Modola and Edan Ibbetson.
The Dragons have missed out on having access to any of its Geelong VFL quartet of Osca Riccardi, Kobe George, Jack Sarcevic and Hamish Lucas.
However, their big man stocks have been boosted by the inclusion of Ainslie recruit Ollie Hicks and James Worme.
X: @krockfootball
