THE Riverina and Farrer Leagues are set to host their most even competitions in years but coaches had no trouble picking out the premiership favourites.
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A host of club coaches and representatives gathered at The Rules Club in Wagga on Wednesday for the AFL Riverina season launch.
There is much hype about the evenness of both competitions this year and that was certainly matched with plenty of buzz about the coaches on Wednesday.
Riverina League coaches were divided in their opinions with Coolamon tipped by three clubs, followed by Griffith (two) and Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong (one).
Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes assistant coach Trent Cohalan said what most other clubs agreed on.
“(Coolamon) were pretty strong last year and they’ve recruited pretty well again,” Cohalan said.
“Matt Hard is back as well.
“I think the likes of Griffith, Leeton and Ganmain will be thereabouts again this year, Leeton and Griffith particularly will be big improvers.
“I can’t see where there is going to be any weak sides.”
Coolamon coach Matt Hard and Turvey Park counterpart Brad Burkinshaw like Griffith.
“We had a lot of trouble with them last year and they’ve recruited quite well,” Hard said.
“All around the park they’re going to be pretty even.”
In the Farrer League, the coaches present were right behind East Wagga-Kooringal.
Northern Jets assistant coach Sam Fisher said there were several reasons that made the Hawks the team to beat.
“They haven’t lost any, they’re well coached and they’ve picked up fairly well,” Fisher said.
“They’ll be pretty good again.”
The Rock-Yerong Creek coach David Pieper rates the Hawks in what he expects to be a great competition.
“I’m only going off hearsay and what blokes say but it should be a really strong comp,” Pieper said.
“It wasn’t bad last year, the top four or five sides and it’s strengthened up lots more this year.”
Charles Sturt University coach Ash Weldon is pleased to report that the Bushpigs have been having 30 to 40 players consistently at training.
He expects the competition to be at tough.
“Marrar has picked up, East Wagga have a good list again and were around the mark last year, while Temora have been at the top for the last three years and keep going.”
AFL Riverina used the launch to announce a new two-year deal with major sponsor Arthur J Gallagher.
