Preview of the 2023-24 Premier Division
A report for The Mercury by Peter Kirby
The BTS Saturday Premier Division pennant competition for 2023-24 commences next Saturday, 21 October, with each of the ten sides in the final throes of preparation for the opening round of matches. Most sides have experienced some changes to their personnel from last season, which may have significant effects for some of the sides in regard to their ability to compete at the highest level.
Second-placed side from 2022-23, Sandy Bay, is one side that has lost a number of key players, most importantly Keghan Booth, who has announced his retirement from the sport. Bryce Guy has transferred to Division 2 side, Franklin, Justin Plummer has moved to Claremont, and David Morris and Oli Clark have returned to Victoria, while Scott Booth has joined his son, Keghan, in retirement. Lucas Howell returns to the club after a year with Trevallyn, and Kyron Daly has been recruited from Penguin, while Phil Hobbs and David Anderson both come back into side after a period in Sandy Bay’s Division 2 side. Even though the changes are significant, Sandy Bay can be expected to be highly competitive again this season.
Claremont is another side to suffer the loss of a number of players with Joy Voss, Adam Voss and Shane Peck all transferring to Glenorchy Rodman, and Kevin Mann and Kevin Raby have moved to Buckingham. To offset these departures, Claremont has gained the services of David Duggan and Chris Chalker from New Norfolk, Alex McCoull from Beltana and Justin Plummer from Sandy Bay. The club will be hopeful that the side will perform more consistently this season and avoid hovering in the lower half of the competition.
Although Glenorchy Rodman has lost several of its skips, Luke Turner (Gold Coast, Queensland) and Tony Vince (Beltana), the three players gained from Claremont should keep the side in the race for a top four spot this season. Likewise, Cremorne, even though David Langmaid has transferred to Rosny Park, should maintain its place in the top four or five in the competition, given that its synthetic green provides a significant home advantage.
New Norfolk has lost almost a third of its side from 2022-23, with Craig (Bumpy) Triffett and Wayne Clark transferring to Division 2 side, Franklin, and David Duggan and Chris Chalker joining Claremont. With no significant gains New Norfolk seems destined to be amongst the sides fighting to avoid relegation this season, along with Buckingham and Dover, each of whom will rely mostly on their players from last season.
Brighton’s efforts to remain mid-ladder this season has suffered somewhat with the transfer of Todd Clark and Ricky Limbrick to Orford, with the loss of these players not being replaced with any new signings, and newly promoted Howrah will be relying on the side that won the Division 1 pennant last season. Howrah will be hopeful that the advantage it gains from its indoor surface will be sufficient to keep the side above the relegation zone.
Kingborough has kept its side from last season intact and has been bolstered by Will Coad’s decision not to play in the Victorian Premier League this season, ensuring his availability for the full season, while Jared Long will be available more regularly, and with a number of quality players in reserve in its Division 1 side, should ensure that Premiers will be highly competitive again, and the early favourites to be top side for a second consecutive year.