Premium Wednesdays | An honestly not terrible look back at our pre-season crystal ball

Some contenders seemed like rusted-on selections that even the starkest contrarian wouldn’t dare publicly suggest against — you might think Goulburn Valley League football — but a correct tip is a correct tip, especially in this economy.

Oh, and it turns out two of us did actually tip against that.

It’s all well and good to give yourself a pat on the back, but on the flip-side, you have to take your licks with the wrong — sometimes very wrong — confidence-laden guesses.

Goulburn Valley League senior football (Prediction: Echuca)

If we’re being quite honest, there’s probably not a lot to be self-congratulatory about here.

Echuca boasted by far the most balanced list across the past two years of competition, unsurprisingly propelling the green machine to two, now three, consecutive premierships.

Having swept the footballing divisions this year with three grand final wins, there’s nothing to suggest 2025 has anything different in store — and there won’t be too much self-back-patting then, either.

Goulburn Valley League A-grade netball (Prediction: Mooroopna)

Okay, so this feels like it deserves just a touch of credit, although being the only one to get it wrong stings just slightly.

After knocking off a previously unbeaten Euroa in round 10, the Cats surged forth and seldom let top spot out of their grasp.

A qualifying final victory over those same Magpies looked like setting the stage, but consecutive finals defeats to Echuca and — at the third time of asking — Euroa crashed Di Hanslow’s minor premiership side out of the race.

Provided the core sticks around, which featured two players in the league best-and-fairest top three, it might be worth standing by this one in 12 months’ time.

Murray Football League (Prediction: Congupna)

Points across the board for the News team on this one, with the Road jumping out to premiership favouritism the moment Kyle Mueller put pen to paper.

For the most part, it panned out exactly as expected with the so-called ‘Wiz’ becoming a goalkicking centurion with his most important kick of the year, a late go-ahead major in the grand final against Finley.

With whispers persisting of his recommitment for season 2025, this could be a set and forget prediction in next year’s magazine — in spite of the almighty scare Ben Bingham’s side received late on from the Cats.

Murray Netball League (Prediction: Deniliquin Rams)

Realistically, it was no more than a month into the season before it looked like Rumbalara sat primed for the flag, with very few challengers.

The Rams suddenly ended up facing Tongala in an elimination final rematch of the 2023 decider following an administrative penalty that benefited the Blues, and fell just a goal short of advancing.

The late finals reshuffle caused a couple of unexpected matchups, but Rumbalara left no questions of its unchecked prowess this year.

Kyabram District League senior football (Prediction: Lancaster)

This appears like another case where, in hindsight, it looks more than reasonable to have suggested this one.

Honestly, you could have thrown a blanket over the top three football sides in this competition as Murchison-Toolamba and Shepparton East joined the Wombats in vying for the summit.

Of course, the Grasshoppers were finally able to flex their muscles come finals, with Lancaster eventually falling hard in a semi before exiting at the hands of Shepparton East in a thriller.

With coach and former McNamara medallist Tom Davies back on-field from next season, it’s expected that this would be a decent pick again.

Kyabram District League A-grade netball (Prediction: Tallygaroopna)

Hoo, boy. Nobody got out of this one unscathed.

With some senior figures from the 2022 and 2023 grand finals moving to B-grade — eventually featuring in a flag there — Tallygaroopna’s top level fell away hard after losing four straight games to end the season ninth at 6-10.

There may be something of a rebuild taking effect within the netball department, with a new era likely taking shape as Girgarre and Lancaster lead the way.

Picola District Football League (Prediction: Waaia)

This felt like an extremely safe call — and, eventually, proved the correct one — but the Bombers very seldom sniffed top spot in 2024.

Strathmerton, Katandra and Katamatite proved fearsome challengers heading into a finals campaign which felt wide open.

Mitch Cleeland’s men couldn’t be denied when the chips were down though, and much like the Murray Bombers, there’s every reason to seriously look at Waaia gunning for a four-peat in 2025.

Picola District Netball League (Prediction: Deniliquin Rovers)

Much like Waaia’s seniors, the defending Rovers had to navigate a wealth of adversaries through a polarised league season.

Ultimately missing out on first after a late defeat to Katamatite, the Rovers nonetheless pushed on and did exactly what was expected through finals, culminating in a second straight flag after overcoming Katunga.

A three-peat can never be ruled out, but the blue-and-white A-graders will have their work cut out yet again with the best teams right up there — plus the addition of a formidable Dookie side.

Liam Nash (3/8): “While I didn’t strike gold with the Euroa football-netball quinella, I’m glad the crystal ball was right about the Magpies’ girls saluting on the court. As for the rest of the league tips, I went fairly safe and was not rewarded for my caution — but if that sacrifice was all for Congupna to get the job done, then I’m a happy man.“

Marcus Beeck (2/8): “So close with some, shocking with others. Glad I walked away with getting it right on Congupna and Euroa.“