On the eve of the new Bellarine season, and a Good Friday meeting with the reigning premiers, Josh Lange has labelled his appointment as captain of Ocean Grove as a “massive honour”.
The midfielder, who replaces Cam Fowler, admits it wasn’t a role that crossed his mind, but it will be Lange leading the Grubbers into action at Steeline Ray Menzies Oval for the clash with Anglesea.
The lifelong Grubber is ready for the challenge to help lead the club back up the ladder after “winning” the wooden spoon for the first time since 1971 last year.
“(It was) probably something I hadn’t put a heap of thought into until it did come into reality, and ‘Faz’ (co-coach Dave Farrell) asked me to do it, Lange said.
“The club has such a rich history, and I’ve played here my whole life.
“I was saying to the guys last night at dinner, it’ll become super real when it’s about five past two tomorrow, and we’ll be tossing the coin and hopefully look back across the stand and the hill and see a sea of red and white and get stuck in Anglesea.
“It’s massive and something I’m super proud about.”
Lange will lead an Ocean Grove lineup featuring the returning James Paterson after a stint at Uni Blues and eight players making their first senior appearance for the club, including former Geelong and Sydney forward Gary Rohan.
The Grubbers have also named recruits Luke Jarrad (Strathmore), Lorne Waldron (Northcote Park), Lenny Allen (St Joseph’s) and Ryan Bongart (Ballan).
However, it’s the three debutants from last year’s under-18 team that reached the AFL Barwon Division 1 grand final that Lange is especially excited to see in action.
“Those graduating under-18s have brought a heap to us pre-season,” he said.
“They’ve been really well drilled by ‘Bones’ (Damian Clarke) the past couple of years.
“Playing at a high standard against a lot of Geelong (league) clubs has been huge, and they come to us with heaps of energy and just a willingness to learn as well as feed off us that have been there for the past four or five years at senior level.”
Lange is likely to spend time matched up with Roos coach Jordan Keras as the Grubbers try to get on top around the footy.
“No doubt we’ll end up side by side, but we really back our system in through the guts,” he said.
“They’re a really contested side and like hunting the footy. So we’ll match that, but also try to have some balance on the outside, too.
“Whether it’s me at times or even a couple of younger guys that go to him, he’s a great player and has a storied career too, so they’ll learn.
“I’m still learning lots from guys like him when I match up on them.”
Meanwhile, Anglesea will have seven changes to the team that snapped a 26-year premiership drought in 2025.
Former Lara duo Ryan Bell and Brodie Cambridge, and James Fulton (Uni Blues) will make their debuts for the Roos.
Former Gold Coast rookie Josh Jaska is back after two years out of the game, and Jack Baker returns from an injury that wiped out his 2025 season.
Grand final heartbreak story Ryan Baker, who missed the decider through injury, and Alex Braaksma have also been included.
They replace Jordan Harrison (Modewarre), Tev Nofi (retired), Charlie Lawless (Geelong Falcons), Simon Unmbers (travelling), and Dylan Featon, who won’t be seen until the second half of the season.
Josh King and Noah Collins will start the new year in the reserves.
Geelong Amateur has named former Richmond big man Andrew Browne for its clash with Modewarre at KFC Oval.
Browne, 35, made 12 AFL appearances for the Tigers from 2009-2011 before being delisted at the end of 2012.
He most recently played with Tyabb in the Mornington Peninsula league.
Former St Kilda player Hugh Goddard will pull on an Ammos jumper for the first time since 2011 after re-joining his junior club in the off-season.
Also returning to Queens Park is St Joseph’s premiership player James Hickey.
Jock Triggs (Holbrook), Jesse Tardio (North Heidelberg) and Nick Beekmans (Lara) will make their senior debut for the Pegs.
Veteran defender Dan Weigl has been named as an emergency.
After a one-off appearance in 2025, former Western Bulldogs midfielder Roarke Smith will start life as a permanent Warrior.
In what will be club legend Josh Finch’s return to coaching after retiring following a club record 336 matches, Modewarre will unveil recruits Brady Campi (Grovedale), Mitch Ulhorn (Woorinen), Jordan Motton (Swifts – Horsham and District), and Tom Scott, who is a former underage player at St Joseph’s.
Premiership players Sam Romeril and Troy Anderson have been named following their return to the club.
Romeril last played at Modewarre in 2021, spending time with Skipton (Central Highlands) and East Point (Ballarat).
Anderson played the last two years with Mallee Eagles in the Central Murray League.
K rock Football is broadcasting the Geelong Amateur-Modewarre clash live from KFC Oval from 1 pm. Download the K rock app to listen live and delay-free.
