Adam Bourke: Westy, it seems plenty of people think premierships are handed out in March. Mitiamo over the line in the Loddon Valley footy flag race is what I keep hearing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Luke West: Ease up... dunno about that cobber.
The Superoos on the back of some strong recruiting - Tyrone Downie, Dougie Thomas and Tim Brooks to name a few - look set to be right in the thick of it again at the business end and I've backed them for the flag, but Maiden Gully YCW and Newbridge loom as top contenders as well.
Reigning premier Newbridge has had a much quieter off-season compared to last year and lost some key talent, such as Tommy Horne and Nathan Bacon out of its midfield, but still should be thereabouts.
Maiden Gully YCW is an interesting one. The Eagles took a massive step forward last season in going from seven years out of the finals straight into a preliminary final.
The Eagles have recruited well again, but now have a much bigger target on their back. Was last year a flash in the pan or can they can they go the next level?
Pyramid Hill and Bears Lagoon-Serpentine to round out the top five for mine, making it the same finals combatants as last year.
How did your top five pan out?
AB: Mighty hard to split Maiden Gully YCW and Mitiamo, but the Eagles on top for mine. I like their midfield mix and they've added some options inside forward 50.
Mitiamo has more star power, but Maiden Gully might have the better depth.
As usual, luck with injuries, particularly to top-end talent, will play a major role.
Taking Mitiamo, Maiden Gully YCW and Newbridge out of the equation, is there any other team that could cause a surprise and be a premiership contender?
LW: Would be surprised if the flag came from any team outside the Superoos, Eagles and Maroons.
Pyramid Hill may well be a side to watch given the Bulldogs finished top three last year in what was earmarked as a development season, so you'd expect more improvement to come under new coach Adrian McErvale.
At the other end of the table, I really hope Inglewood can start to make some genuine inroads after being the cellar dweller of the competition for so long.
I'd be more than happy for the Blues to make a mockery of Inglewood as my wooden-spoon tip and that they can win the five or six games coach Ryan McNish is targeting.
AB: Here's our footy and netball predictions for 2019.
FOOTBALL
ADAM BOURKE
Premier: Maiden Gully YCW
Runner-up: Mitiamo
Top five: Maiden Gully YCW, Mitiamo, Newbridge, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine, Pyramid Hill
Wooden spoon: Inglewood
Harding Medal: Harry Gadsden (BL-Serpentine)
Leading goalkicker: Tyrone Downie (Mitiamo)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Record crowd watches Eagles and Superoos slug out grand final thriller.
LUKE WEST
Premier: Mitiamo
Runner-up: Maiden Gully YCW
Top five: Mitiamo, Maiden Gully YCW, Newbridge, Pyramid Hill, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine
Wooden spoon: Inglewood
Harding Medal: Nick Waterson (Maiden Gully YCW)
Leading goalkicker: Tyrone Downie (Mitiamo)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Finally... a LVFNL grand final that goes down to the wire
KIERAN ILES
Premier: Mitiamo
Runner-up: Newbridge
Top five: Newbridge, Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill, Maiden Gully YCW, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Wooden spoon: Marong
Harding Medal: Darby Graham (Maiden Gully YCW)
Leading goalkicker: Tyrone Downie (Mitiamo)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Premiership drought over for Pyramid Hill
ANTHONY PINDA
Premier: Mitiamo
Runner-up: Pyramid Hill
Top five: Mitiamo, Pyramid Hill, Maiden Gully YCW, Newbridge, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Wooden spoon: Inglewood
Harding Medal: Terry Reeves (Mitiamo)
Leading goalkicker: Matt Waterson (Maiden Gully)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Mitiamo breaks decade long premiership drought.
NETBALL
ADAM BOURKE
Premier: Mitiamo
Runner-up: Newbridge
Top five: Mitiamo, Newbridge, Calivil United, Bridgewater, Maiden Gully YCW.
Wooden spoon: Inglewood
League best and fairest: Laura Hicks (Mitiamo)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Inter-league glory for LVFNL netballers.
LUKE WEST
Premier: Calivil United
Runner-up: Newbridge
Top five: Calivil United, Newbridge, Maiden Gully YCW, Bridgewater, Mitiamo.
Wooden spoon: Inglewood
League best and fairest: Christie Rogers (Calivil United)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Top five not decided until extra time thriller in final round
KIERAN ILES
Premier: Newbridge
Runner-up: Calivil United
Top five: Newbridge, Calivil United, Bridgewater, Mitiamo, Maiden Gully YCW
Wooden spoon: Inglewood
League best and fairest: Lucy Morcom (Mitiamo)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Inglewood breaks through for early season win to mark return to A-grade.
ANTHONY PINDA
Premier: Bridgewater
Runner-up: Calivil United
Top five: Bridgewater, Calivil United, Mitiamo, Maiden Gully YCW, Newbridge
Wooden spoon: Pyramid Hill
League best and fairest: Jane Reid (Newbridge)
Headline you'd like to see in 2019: Back-to-back premierships for Bridgewater
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.