It’s been a long off season break, a lot of water has gone under the bridge, and a lot of sweat has been spilt on training grounds around town. Much has happened at Old Xavs since that magnificent afternoon last September. This weekend sees our Seniors, Reserves, and Thirds (the Menages) play a triple header against Collegians at Harry Trott oval. A new look Senior side will represent the Red & Black without the likes of Fleming, Clarke, Ruyg, and Johnston.

It’s been a long off season break, a lot of water has gone under the bridge, and a lot of sweat has been spilt on training grounds around town. Much has happened at Old Xavs since that magnificent afternoon last September. This weekend sees our Seniors, Reserves, and Thirds (the Menages) play a triple header against Collegians at Harry Trott oval. A new look Senior side will represent the Red & Black without the likes of Fleming, Clarke, Ruyg, and Johnston. History has shown that we can quickly adapt to departures of similar number and quality, and with a number of exceptional additions to our playing group, we are confident that this will again be the case. Andy Biddlecombe returns to the club after a successful stint at Sandringham, while ex-Bulldog rookie listed player John Shaw adds another dimension to our ruck and forward options. Dustin Lloyd returns after a year renovating his house and has brought along his younger brother Tyson who has shown quite a bit throughout the preseason games. Add to this group a number of last year’s Under 19 players and things are again looking good.

It’s always hard to gauge how our opposition are fairing and what has been going on since the end of season 2009, however a number of clubs have been very busy at the recruiting table, while others have been hurt by mass departures. Collegians list seems to have remained relatively stable. De La’s preseason form has been strong and although losing Woodrow Medallist Matthew Fieldsend to the Casey Scoprions and Michael Davidson to Monash Blues, they have recruited well picking up Port Melbourne backman Jason Baxter, John Nicolopoulos from Williamstown, and former College captain Michael Stinear from St Kilda City.

Marcellin has lost the services of a couple of handy players in Cullinan and Maclaren. Hurt the most by departing players looks to be Old Brighton with Sinclair, Mann, Spriggs, Peel, Ainley, Gadsden, Phelan, and Mentiplay deciding to play their footy elsewhere in 2010. Newly elevated club Old Melburnians have added Adam Morgan from Balwyn (ex Bulldogs), Cameron Beck, a former Tasmanian state player, and ex-Hawthorn and Port Melbourne player Bo Nixon.

Old Scotch have lost former Melbourne player Nathan Brown and opposition crowd favourite Shaun Lorenzini, and former Geelong VFL premiership captain James Byrne, but have broken a VAFA record with the amount of new registrations. Rowan Nayna is a quality player from the EFL, Robert Ferraro from Corowa-Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray will be one of the best on-ballers in the competition, Lachlan Hill arrives from VFL side the Northern Bullants, and well renowned SANFL power forward Mark Passador lands in the goalsquare.

Old Trinity will be missing one of their best in Andy Cultera and have also lost Scott Krakouer. The boys down at St Bedes / Mentone will be without Poynton and Mavric as well as Phibbs and McGettigan who are travelling, while Uni Blues lose Mackinnon and Mugavin, but look to pick up a quality player from the SANFL in Charles Slattery.

Our Under 19 Premier side plays Uni Blacks at Stradbroke Park at 2pm, and our Under 19 2’s start their campaign next week. The Crocs also have another week to add the finishing touches to their exhaustive preseason schedule as the Club XVIII season begins next week.

Go Xavs!