The new season of the Barry Maney Group Limestone Coast Premier League will kick off today, with International hosting last year’s premiers Gambier Centrals.
The sides will take the pitch at Casadio Park as International seeks revenge for the loss in the 2022 grand final.
Both sides have plenty to prove, with back-to-back reigning champions Gambier Centrals eager too continue its winning run towards a three-peat, while International won the minor premiership last season and claimed the preseason carnival by a goal just nine days ago.
The match will mark the return of International coach Tony D’Agostino, who is back coaching the side after two years away from the role.
In what is a massive blow fore the home side, International will be without star player and goal-sneak Matt Bueti for the season opener, with the regular golden boot winner sidelined with an ankle injury.
Bueti will be a huge out for International, after a stellar 2022 season as the leading goal scorer for the league, netting 53 goals – finding the back of the new 24 more times than the next closest player in the league.
Despite the setback, International has been boosted by some big name inclusions from last season, with Hayden Cutting transferring from Apollo, while James Kipping has also returned to the club after a year at Apollo and a year in Adelaide.
“(Cutting is) going to be an integral part of our team (and) James is probably one of the best goalkeepers in the league, he’s going to be a massive gain for us as well,” D’Agostino said.
On the opposite side of the pitch, Gambier Centrals will be full of confidence after proving too strong for International in the grand final last year, but will be wary to avoid a much-feared grand final hangover.
The blue and orange has retained a similar side to its back-to-back premierships winning team and will be looking to pull off the much sought after three-peat in this years Barry Maney Group Limestone Coast Premier League season.
With the women’s league kicking off earlier in the day with an Anzac Day clash of their own, a competitive game is shaping up between the two sides with a number of player changes across the league.
International will be looking to prove to itself and the rest of the competition it is still one of the sides to beat after missing out on the grand final after claiming the minor premiership last season.
Ricky McRobert will once again lead International, but will be hoping to take his side further in his second year in charge.
After the disappointment of missing out on the grand final in a year in which they claimed the minor premiership, McRobert will hope to see a response from his side as they begin the year hoping to return to the form that saw them claim the premiership in 2021.
However the International women’s side will have to work extra hard to claim the points in the season opener, with key players in Tess Andrews and last year’s league leading goal scorer Ella Doody relocating to Adelaide.
Gambier Centrals will take to the pitch for its first game of the 2023 season under new coach Tom Navickas as the side looks to improve upon last season’s results which saw the side miss out on finals.
Navickas was a crucial part in the Gambier Centrals men’s side going back-to-back as an assistant coach in the past two seasons and his new role will provide a new challenge.
Navickas will hope to make his mark on the competition early and a win against International will set the tone for the year.
The Barry Maney Group Limestone Coast Premier League 2023 season will launch into action at 2.00pm at Casadio Park with the women’s sides taking to the pitch and the men will be eager to shine brightly under lights with the kick-off set for 6.00pm, while the rest of the opening round’s action will take place on Saturday and Sunday with Blue Lake taking on Apollo at Malseed Park and Naracoorte United kicking off its season against Millicent United in Naracoorte.
