Year after year, Buninyong just keeps trotting out teams that will challenge for the top four.
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And season 2018 appears no different.
The Bombers will continue to chase that elusive flag under senior coach Jarrod Morgan, who has managed to keep his senior group together for the new campaign.
And the biggest recruit during the off-season is without doubt former Port Adelaide-listed player Sam Russell.
Russell, who joins brother Fraser at the club, has played for the Northern Blues in the VFL and is set to bolster the side’s midfield stocks.
Other recruits for the Bombers include Harli Givvens, from Sebastopol, former North Ballarat Roosters player Tim Brayshaw and Michael McKenzie, who is back at the club after a couple of stints elsewhere in recent years. East Point’s Sam Cooper has also recently put pen to paper.
Meanwhile, the battle between Buninyong and Rokewood-Corindhap for the services of gun Grasshopper key position player Caius Barrenger continues. As it stands, he is yet to be cleared to Bomberland.
Morgan said the entire senior side from the losing preliminary final in 2017 was available this season.
“We are definitely a better list,” Morgan told The Courier.
“There’s four or five guys that will walk straight into senior footy that we have brought into the club so we’re going to be better.
“The majority of them are midfielders and that’s what we have been crying out for. Just a bit more midfield depth, just to cover any injuries and have options to use guys in different spots.”
While most coaches play down their hopes of success, Morgan was happy to admit he was after the premiership.
“When you work really hard to put together a good side, that’s obviously your aim. You don’t beat around the bush,” Morgan said.
“That’s definitely our aim, but it’s not something we speak about all the time.”
Buninyong will open up its 2018 season with a clash against rivals Springbank on April 7.
Q: What do you see as your key on-field strength?
Our depth and ability to be unpredictable with our structures and positions. Also, we are a group that are prepared to sacrifice for each other.
Q: What is your key message as coach in 2018?
Be committed, organised and honest with yourself.
Q: How have the pre-season preparations gone?
Reasonably happy. We have had really solid commitment, especially post-Christmas, and we are injury-free heading into final preparations, which is great.
Q: Which player are you most excited about?
No one player in particular. We have a few guys that have committed to pushing their fitness levels, so it will be great to see how they progress. It will be also exciting to see the connection grow with a much deeper midfield.
Q: Which is the team to beat this season?
Premiers have to be the yardstick - Hepburn.
The Bombers’ Fact File
COACH
Jarrod Morgan (returning)
2017 SEASON
Fourth position
13 wins, three losses
Top goal-kicker: Jake Dunne, 39 goals
Best and fairest: Jack Robertson
Geoff Taylor Medal top vote-getters: Ned Gilbert 18, Jarrod Morgan 10, Jarrod Rodgers 10, Liam Rigby 9, Jack Robertson 7, Jake Dunne 7, Anthony Ebery 6, Jacob Coxall 4, Tyler Dittloff 3, Fraser Russell 1, Samuel Turner 1
KEY ARRIVALS
Sam Russell (Northern Blues), Harli Givvens (Sebastopol), Daniel Chant (Ballarat), Tim Brayshaw (Westerns), Michael McKenzie (Apollo Bay)
KEY DEPARTURES
Nil
THE FIXTURE
R1: Springbank (a)
R2: Ballan (h)
R3: Dunnstown (a)
R4: Beaufort (h)
R5: Hepburn (a)
R6: Waubra (h)
R7: Rokewood-Corindhap (a)
R8: Skipton (h)
R9: Creswick (a)
R10: Carngham-Linton (h)
R11: Clunes (a)
R12: Smythesdale (h)
R13: Learmonth (a)
R14: Newlyn (h)
R15: Daylesford (a)
R16: Bungaree (h)
R17: Gordon (a)
THE VERDICT
The Bombers have kept most of their list together from 2017, where they reached a preliminary final.
That squad appears to have been bolstered, so expect the boys in red and black to give the flag a shake once again.
