OFA 2024: Premiers Newdegate take on bolstered Gnowangerup, wooden-spooners Jerramungup eye improved year

The upper Great Southern will get its first taste of a football return when the Ongerup Football Association bounces down for its highly anticipated round one clashes this weekend. Reigning premiers Newdegate are the hunted this season and will kick start their title defence against a much-bolstered Gnowangerup side in Newdegate on Saturday. The Lions secured their sixth flag with a 29-point triumph over Lake Grace-Pingrup in last year’s decider on the back of a scintillating last quarter effort. They must grapple with the departures of 2023 Michael McLennan Medallist, club best and fairest and young midfield star Nelson Kent (UWA) and Tristan Ballard (Claremont). Outgoing coach Harvey Lynch has accepted a role with Royals colts in the Great Southern Football League, with star forward Arron Russell accepting the position of player-coach for the upcoming season. They will face a Bulldogs outfit buoyed by the sterling inclusions of brothers Timm and Fraser House who return to the kennel after stints with Claremont. The two big-name recruits will go a long way to fulfilling Bulldogs’ hopes of returning to their recent dominance where they secured a premiership three-peat between 2020 and 2022. After suffering grand final heartache last season, the Bombers will be hungry to get their retribution against the wooden-spooners Jerramungup in Lake Grace. The Eagles, who boast the reigning Les Ganzer Medallist Jayden Brooks, did not win a game last season but are eyeing a much-improved season after landing three key signings for the upcoming campaign. Tate Barrett returns to the club after a league fairest and best winning season in the Kangaroo Island Football League, SA, alongside Darcy Webb (travel). They have also snaffled up the services of Katanning Wanderers premiership-winning key forward Caleb Keley from the Upper Great Southern Football League. Under new coach Jack Carruthers, the Bombers must contend with the heavy losses of Alex Duckworth and Konnah Holmes (both knee injuries) who will be sidelined all season after they were helped from the ground by trainers in last year’s big dance. Both games start at 2.15pm while Boxwood Hill, who have gained the addition of Sam Bertola (Lake Grace-Pingrup) and welcome Nick Bertola back from injury, have a bye.