All Flags Men's Premier League Insider I Issue #1

ISSUE #1

By ALL FLAGS PREMIER LEAGUE INSIDER

Without a doubt the most exciting aspect of the 2021 All Flags Premier League is in the name. A league sponsor brings a massive boost to the competition and a bigger buzz amongst the teams around getting the competition underway. A new year always brings renewed enthusiasm, hopes and passion, and after a year like 2020, I’m sure this is only exaggerated by the prospect of a full season.

A large aspect of this enthusiasm will largely be due to the excitement brought by new talent joining teams, whether this is an influx of youngsters progressing from a Club’s junior ranks, or those seeking a sea change or a change in environment where an opportunity may be available for a club and player to have matching ambitions.

For the Men’s Competition that kicks off this week, a range of players have been included in the squads for the 2021 season who are either still playing Juniors or have recently graduated. Players like Chaz Davies (Reds), Mitch McGrath (WASPS), Charlie McIntyre (WASPS), Jeremy Mayne (Vic Park), Tom Keating (Westside Wolves), Patrick Andrew (Westside Wolves), Angus Adamson (YMCC) and Hamish Adamson (YMCC) will all look to build on their Premier Division experience and leave their mark on the rest of the competition.

Hunter Banyard, (OGMHC), Joe Welch (WASPS), Rhys Brnich (Curtin University) and Alex Rippey (Westside Wolves), will all be hoping to bring a new dynamic to the club they have moved to. Meanwhile players like Frank Main (UWA), Damon Ross (Whitford), Matthew Lim (YMCC) have all been welcomed back to their clubs after short hiatuses, and will be looking to play significant roles in their respective club’s 2021 campaigns.

Setting the pace as we get underway will be players like Liam Flynn (Hale), James Day (Melville), Cambell Geddes (UWA), James Collins (Vic Park) and Tom Harvie (Westside Wolves) after being given a call-up in the recent FMG Challenge matches for the Kookaburra (Gold) and Kookaburra (Ochre) teams.

The 2021 season has seen the vast majority of clubs retain the services of their coaching staff from 2020 in order to build on the momentum built throughout that campaign and set themselves up for the best possible finish in 2021. Marc Pike has taken the helm at OGMHC and will be looking to build on the infrastructure set up there over a number of years, whilst Ian Burcher has taken on the Head Coach duties at WASPS and will be very much looking forward to matching wits with the coaches and players he has both played with or against throughout his illustrious playing career.

The first week of the All Flags Premier League Men 2021 opens with a 2020 Grand Final rematch between Reds and UWA on Thursday 25^th March. There will be much to play for, not least of which will be the three points that will kick off their 2021 campaigns in the right direction. On Saturday 27^th March, Perth Hockey Stadium will come to life with four matches scheduled back-to-back, providing an enthralling afternoon of hockey for fans of all appetites. Wesley South Perth will play Melville CIty and Victoria Park Xavier will play YMCA Coastal City in the most riveting watching as all teams are serial Finals contenders and will be seeking early points to take as much advantage as possible through the early rounds.

The Men’s competition will see midweek fixtures held either side of the Easter Weekend immediately following Round 1, and with this in mind, all teams will be seeking to put scoreboard pressure on their opposition in these early stages to obtain maximum points leading into the break.

The All Flags Premier League Insider will be providing behind-the-scenes insights into the competition, from on and off the field, each week during the season. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE FOR THE 2021 ALL FLAGS PREMIER LEAGUE