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With Rnd 1 fast approaching for the Winter Pennant of 2025, the Grading Committee work feverishly formulating sides in what looks to be a very even competition throughout the 4 Pennants.
PENNANT ONE:
The return of Arhuang Lau (Wong), Matt Ljubic (pictured) and Shannon Bowen to this seasons Pennant makes this list quite a formidable lineup. Matt, the aggregate winner of Winter 2022 and 2023 seasons; Shannon 2022 Winter aggregate runner up and Wong Summer 2023 ranked no.5.
Daniel Jansen and Tom Morrison back up after debuting in P1 in 2024 with Tom picking up a premiership in the Summer Comp.
The blend of 6 strong number 1’s looks to have had a ripple effect of having six very even looking teams and one suspects doubles may play a crucial role in most of the head to heads.
The big questions:
Can Matt Ljubic rediscover his form of 22 / 23 seasons; if so could have a real impact on the late run to finals.
Can the STTA’s most capped player Wayne Carmichael stay ahead of the pack, with a strong list below one suspects the the aggregate may not be decided until the final round.
Will Shannon Bowen slot back into gear and press for his maiden aggregate title?
Can Kate Carmichael who was the Summer 23 aggregate winner capture that moment again or Jackson Tung who has been so close in taking the aggregate crown finally reach the No.1 spot.
Can Jamie Kealley back up a brilliant debut in Pennant 1 with another growth spike. He surprised plenty of higher ranked players and may be destined for greater things by seasons end.
It promises to be a tight contest week in, week out with ladder positions flipping all over the place.
As to who wins the Premiership?
Dont be surprised if all six teams are still in finals contention come round 15.
And just a footnote from the editor: This Winter comp’s Super 8’s finals in P1 could be the biggest of all with such an open field. Perhaps a little early to ponder but one wonders what could be!
Let the games begin!
| Pennant 1 | ||
| Choices Flooring Mildura | Mallee Bearings | Weightmans Packaging |
| Wayne Carmichael | Arhuang Lau | Shannon Bowen |
| Liam Wood | Mark Dorman | Reece Kurrle |
| Daniel Jansen | Tom Morrison | Lee Leeson |
| Cookes Pools & Spas | Regional Taxation Services | Tankard Dental |
| Jackson Tung | Matt Ljubic | Kate Carmichael |
| Paul Kealley | Thanh Nguyen | Rohan Reimers |
| Russell Walder | Jamie Kealley | Ed Hung |
PENNANT TWO:
This is a strong pennant with five teams in all.
Several players including Marcus Cimino, Quentin Clarke, the greatly experienced Peter Midgley, Peter Fitzpatrick and Michael Hensgen are returning after a break, and they add good depth and quality which will see many hard fought and close results.
What else would you expect for pennant two!!
Also great to see Sony Sefer back permanently after a long hiatus and he will add experience to his team. Making his debut in Pennant Two after filling in several times in the Summer Pennant is the exciting Duy Truong. Duy has been in Mildura for several years and soccer is his number one sport however he plays an excellent table game and will cause some havoc in this pennant.
Who will be the premier in this pennant , toss a coin ???
| Pennant 2 | ||
| Cookes Pools & Spas | Pinnacle Packers | Weightmans Packaging |
| Quentin Clark | Marcus Cimino | John Fitzpatrick |
| Duy Truong | Peter Midgley | Sony Sefer |
| Michael Hensgen | Peter Fitzpatrick | Therese Fitzpatrick |
| Mallee Meats | Choices Flooring Mildura | |
| Jason Gifkins | Ashley Morrison | |
| Harry Gujral | Terry Martin | |
| James Jarvis | Andrew Jones | |
PENNANT THREE:
There are four team very even teams in this pennant and very difficult to pick a flag favourite.
Welcome to new players Brenden Johnson and Yen (Beh Hwak) who join us permanently for the first time. They both filled in on several occasions last season and are showing rapid improvement.
Ryan Hensgen (pictured) returns as the number one ranked player in this pennant, he has been kept busy recently with the birth of two children, hopefully two future players. Also great to see Leo Parker back playing, good luck Leo.
Adding further depth to this pennant is the return of Sabrina Fitzpatrick and the inclusion of Nhat Dat from the summer pennant two.
Can the summer pennant undefeated aggregate winner Karly Leach continue her unbeaten run.
Look for the improvement from the youngsters in Deegan Kerslake, Koby Grace, Samantha Campbell and Hayden Wilson.
Looking forward to this pennant and anyone’s guess as to who will be premier.
Good luck to all !!!
| Pennant 3 | ||
| Sammy’s Slammers | Regional Taxation Services | |
| Ryan Hensgen | Sabrina Fitzpatrick | |
| Koby Grace | Sam Campbell | |
| Beh Hwak | Hayden Wilson | |
| Exposed Signage/Apparel | Weightmans Packaging | |
| Karly Leach | Nhat Dat | |
| Deegan Kerslake | Steve Parker | |
| Brendon Johnson | Leo Parker | |
PENNANT FOUR:
Great news, Pennant Four is back …
Again four good looking teams with a mix of experience and youth.
Glenn Leeson (pictured) returns and will add experience to the group. After saying goodbye after the recent Summer Pennant and planning to head off to Adelaide, Curtis Crabtree surprised us by turning up to grading number 2. After a season off Jake Hines is back and has been practising hard on Monday nights.
Jakob Grzan after filling in last season and winning an important singles in the semi final is now in a team permanently and he has shown great improvement which again has come from hard work on a Monday.
A new recruit Leanne Wilson, has shown good form and being a leftie will be a strong number one in this pennant. Leanne is the mum of Hayden Wilson and these two have also been hitting regularly on a Monday. Leanne had some good wins over the two grading nights.
A further new addition to our numbers is Eddie Parker, Eddie has been coaxed along by work mate Daniel Jansen and our other Parkers, Steve and Leo. Welcome Eddie enjoy!!
As should be the case this time of year too hard to pick the flag favourite, good luck everyone.
| Pennant 4 | ||
| Mallee Meats | Dunkley Scales | |
| Curtis Crabtree | Maria Starikov | |
| Nathan Beard | Jenny Leach | |
| Conner Burnett | Jake Hines | |
| Weightmans Packaging | Tankard Dental | |
| Glenn Leeson | Leanne Wilson | |
| Gary Leach | Ildi Healy | |
| Eddie Parker | Jakob Grzan | |
