Arguably the best-performed 1-12 team in Bellarine history, Newcomb has not hesitated in handing coach Tony Mirabella a one-year contract extension.
While Power president Matt Farrow is the first to admit the win column is far from ideal, like the rest of the BFNL, he knows there has been significant improvement in the performance of the club’s senior team.
“We’re really happy with ‘Mirra’ as a package,” Farrow said.
“The win-loss hasn’t gone our way, but coming to Round 14, we’ve got 25 injured, and that hasn’t helped.
“But, not only Mirra but also the assistant coaches and support staff, we’re really happy with the group as a collective.
“Hopefully, we’ll have them all locked away in the next week.”
The highly-respected Mirabella took the reins at Grinter Reserve last year following the mid-season departure of Mitch Troy.
He registered two wins after taking over to round out 2023.
Newcomb’s only win this year was a 17-point victory over previously winless Ocean Grove in Round 7.
However, there have been three losses by 11 points or less, including to reigning grand finalists Torquay and Drysdale and 2024 contender Geelong Amateur.
“We’re certainly not where we want to be, but we’ve seen such improvement,” Farrow said.
“The competition’s gone to the next level right across the board.
“All the clubs have recruited well; there are good kids coming through at a lot of the teams.”
Farrow says Newcomb is benefiting from investing in its Auskick program more than a decade ago.
“We’ve played Reece Smiljanic; he’s a product of a program started by Scott Smith some 13 years ago,” he said.
“He’s the first to come through that Auskick program, and we’ll probably have one or two more come through in the next year or two.
“Reece will get more game time next year from that exposure. He’s had that taste now, which is really important.
“But, as a club, we need to retain the majority of the group we’ve got now so that that nucleus is there.
“But, we need to go and recruit some seasoned players who have had success that can drive the standards on the ground and at training so we grow to that next level.”
Mirabella’s re-signing was announced ahead of the Power hosting Queenscliff at Grinter Reserve tomorrow (Saturday).
Newcomb will welcome back veteran defender Peter Gordyn, and Charlie Harvey in place of Sam McDonald and Kyle Sykstus.
The Coutas have made three changes.
They’re boosted by the return of Jai McGough, Zac Henderson, and Isaac McCabe, who replace unavailable duo Kai Keenan and Jake Lindrea and the omitted Oscar Courtney.
Sam Leeds will play his first game of the season among five changes made by Anglesea for its meeting with Great Ocean Road rivals Torquay at McCartney Oval.
The Roos welcome back Dyl Pettingill, Dylan Featon, Fergus Huntington and Noah Collins.
Charlie Lawless, who made his Geelong Falcons debut last week, is unavailable, while Aidan Connell, Anton Woods, Tom Presnell and Liam Carolan have been omitted.
The Tigers are set to go in unchanged despite suffering their first loss of the season before the bye.
Geelong Falcons and Cats VFL ruck Joe Pike will play his first game with Barwon Heads this season in the top-three-defining meeting with Geelong Amateur at KFC Oval.
Pike is one of five inclusions for the Seagulls, who also welcome back reigning Ash medallist Luke Davis, Geelong Falcon Cooper Ward, Charlie Perks, and Charlie Hurst.
They’ve replaced Charlie Walter (hamstring), Alex Hayden, Jack Stevens, Matt Ogle and Luca Vella.
Ammos will welcome back Nick Nott to battle Pike and Davis, Tom Zeitz, Jarrad Jans and Falcon Will Mithen.
Out of the team that handed Torquay its first loss of the season are Guy Hardiman (shoulder), Nick Maishman (knee), Jake Heard (back) and James Lee.
Drysdale will be boosted by Michael Case’s first appearance of 2024 and the return of Cam Delaney, Flinn Chisholm, and Mitch O’Dowd for its must-win meeting with Portarlington at Mortimer Oval.
Delaney has managed just four games since arriving from GFNL club Grovedale, with his last appearance coming in the Round 6 win over Queenscliff.
Mitch Clark (hamstring), Nick Aringo, Bailey Hume and Josh Hopgood go out of the team that defeated Newcomb before the bye.
The Demons have lost former Richmond and North Melbourne player Connor Menadue to a hamstring injury suffered late in the pre-bye loss to Modewarre.
Nat Matthews will return from a quad injury that sidelined him for two matches as Modewarre faces a tricky meeting with an improving Ocean Grove at Community Bank Oval.
He replaces youngster Brady Prigg, who has an ankle issue.
The Grubbers have been boosted by the inclusion of veteran Jye Walker and South Barwon recruit Harry Cashin.
They replace Ollie Monteith and Joel Dillon.
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