The 2012 Season Begins......

The 2012 Latrobe Team Premiership Season began and what a challenge it was for all. Rain and inches of it fell across Victoria all day and Latrobe was not immune with the course copping a bucketing. It is a measure of the team spirit that pulses through the veins of all Premiership players that 186 played, facing up to the hardships that wet weather demands and they persevered as bestthey could for the good of their teams. There was no doubt that the course tip toed on the precipice of being unplayable several times during the morning and afternoon rounds however the first round was completed and the first results of the 2012 season were posted and locked away.

The first round blockbuster between the defending premiers ‘The Ferretts’ and 2010 Champions ‘The Corruptibles’ was one fire that the rain put out. Two teams that were salivating at the opportunity to take each other down found one on the wrong end of Mother Nature. The Ferrets prevailed due to finishing but the Corruptibles will be sure to keep their new found ‘Belief’. Their spiritual leader has returned to his keyboard and his stinging prose will keep his players primed and keen for the entire season, even if delivered from a land far away. It remains to be seen if their regular affirmation for 2012 achieves the same scintillating success as the famous ‘Yes’ campaign of 2010. At least in the short term, the “Believe” slogan has some traction, well at least amongst the 11 Corruptibles. They will need to repeat it often this week as they face up to the other former Premiers ‘The Buglers’ in round 2, another test for that cap, I am still wondering if it fits.

The Buglers, giants of the Premiership in its infancy, have reemerged from last year’s shock wooden spoon with a hunger in their eye again. The influence of T Rob, back from his year in Moose territory after securing a Canadian beauty for a life time of ‘cabin fever’, is not to be underestimated. Like an avalanche down the side of a towering mountain in the Rockies of British Columbia the ‘Buglers’ look ready to take everyone out with increasing momentum through the year. The Tridents were first to feel their cold grip, a team also with great prospects for finals action, as the Buglers won a cracking match on the back of great golf early in the day by their morning players. The Corruptibles have the chance to stop this avalanche early and for once I would think, the rest of the competition are with them.

The Wanderers, as the only team not to taste the joys of finals action over the past historic 4 years got off to a flyer pulverizing an In Time Dynasty team that is looking a tad shaky. A solid rebuild has taken place with the team now a good mix of low and middle handicappers and a significant dose of glamour as well. It has taken time but their captain has been patient and he is desperate for his team to finally find the track to lead them to the pressures of July action. The first round showed signs that 2012 could be the first significant step into a glory filled time for this team. They now face off against the Brothers in Arms in the Anniversary Round, finalists in all but one season and victors as well in the first round over the Cup Hunters. It is another test, and it will give a good indication if they stay on that track to the Promised Land or wander off into the wilderness at the bottom of the table again.

Last year’s Minor Premiers the Vultures started as they finished with a dominant first up victory against the Wood Ducks. The Gummers were again up early slicing through Wally World in a repeat of last year’s Team Survivor Grand Final result and Triple WWW overcame F Troop, who have been weakened by the foot injury of their 2010 Number 1 draft pick Chris Page. But the true spirit of Team Competition was best displayed by the Tunners. Playing the All Night Chemists, they split into groups to eye ball each other in the darkened and wet conditions. The Tunners prevailed despite one of the Oxen not completing their round. When questioned on the reasons for quitting and the possibility of letting down his team, wet, tired and emotional, the reply was succinct; ‘I may have gone down, but I took three of them down with me’. Oh yes, it was an early beer for 1 Tunner but 3 of the Chemists… and the Tunners got it done.

This Saturday is the Anniversary round. We pay respects to our club’s past. It is Round 2 of 15, it is early in the season but the journey to Premiership Glory has started again.