The Cambrige Premiership Draft

The excitement from last year’s season came flooding back to the many captains and assistants as all teams gathered to partake in the very first Premiership draft. The ‘War of the Worlds’ was the theme and there was more than a little joy for the many teams that were mercilessly crushed last year by the Ferretts as memories of them faltering in the finals returned. The emotion of last year’s finals series is still raw for the Ferretts, with Captain Billy Adams and his cohorts ‘Big Al’ Lehner and Timmy Stray galvanised to strengthen their team and make the step that proved just too far last year, the step that eventually leads to premiership glory.

It was to be a night of opportunity for all. However, it was an opportunity that for some teams needed desperately to be taken and to be taken well. That opportunity presented in one collage of golfing talent, 64 eager players resolved to join a team and bond to a strength that will prove too strong for all others. They had placed their immediate golfing future in the hands of 16 captains. The bottom sides from last year would need to bring up plenty. This was to be their chance to build for the future, to begin the climb up the premiership ladder, to make their play for the premiership cup. Otherwise it would be another cold and baron winter, frozen out of the finals series again, nothing but a season of tragedy; of heartache, soul searching and broken dreams.

The research had been done, the quiet deal making completed, and the dice was to be rolled 64 times to determine who would take on who, the teams for 2009 were to be finalised.

The Wanderers had the prized first pick and subsequent first picks in each round and they used them well. They have turned themselves into a strong team with Poposki, Ozdemir, Bunn and Di Marco all to score heavily throughout the season. One night has changed this team’s future.

Triple WWW grabbed favoured Number 1 pick Cecchi after he was passed over by the Wanderers with glee. Then adding the consistent Campbell with McKenzie and Stanley ensured the healthy injection of talent into this team was secured.

The Saaksjarvies seemed to have put all their eggs in the basket of the super consistent Langford. Some selections from left field of pinch hitters Cahill, Jowers and Denton (Michael) may have secured Langford favouritism in the Charles Latrobe Medal.

The Snowgummers offset their too strong early picks of Hocking and Harvie with friendship selections Burgess and ‘Scrap’. They will not have to wait too many games to determine whether this strategy was sound and those friendships remain as stong as ever.

The Corruptables did well also bolstering their team with Gun player Pinataro a strong ‘Charles Latrobe Medal’ chance, the unorthodox but highly consistent and radiantly dressed Prideaux. They also increased their defense capabilities with Denton and Misso sure to keep them out of trouble during the season’s slandering sessions.

The All Night Chemists also had a strong night grouping low marker Pollack with the clubs best left hander Moore, boom ‘B Grade’ champion Ylias and the pinch hitting Kelsey. Their main problem remains with their current group conflicted with betting against each other stretching team harmony but no constricting team sledging.

The Wood Ducks played their hand well with McGregor a consistent scorer, Lam a proven performer, Scott solid each week and the potential superstar in young Lewis Harry. Many will look back and ask themselves why this young man slipped to the third round, he should not have and the Woodies are stronger for it.

The Tunners were considered the over achievers last year however they did magnificently securing too strong players in Poustie and Mansfield. Grouped with Tunners past player Whitfield and Ridley, they will no longer be underestimated, the spirit of the Tunners will live strong this year.

The Ferretts achieved their goal by becoming stronger as well. Already a formidable team, the guilt of last year’s guillotining at the dawn of the season has been erased with the injection of the consistent Gilder. Then they added the experience of old ‘Mongrels’ Bisignano and Ierofone with the guile of Thomas to have their eye fixed firmly on the Premiership Cup.

Finally, ‘The Buglers’ achieved the coup of the night. How the defending Premiers managed to pluck Club Champion, Tim Johnston at pick 15 will be the enduring question that hangs over the other Captains all year. Add the ultimate pinch hitter Eric Lehner to that mix and the skills of Spillane and Hesketh will ensure that the other clubs will need their very best to stop a repeat by the benchmark of the competition.

The stage is now set, the games are about to begin and the season will once again bring the waves of excitement, the emotion of the soaring highs and gut wrenching lows to the golf of Latrobe Golf Club on Saturday. Good luck to all......