GSFL 2021 Denmark-Walpole preview: Magpies land quality additions in quest to lift premiership cup aloft

Denmark-Walpole coach Alan Smallwood believes his side will need a few weeks to build into the new Great Southern Football League season, as the Magpies aim to go one better than their grand final defeat last year. The Magpies last won a league premiership in 2010 and Smallwood has taken the reins of a talented side that surged into the decider last season but fell short against Royals. The return of premiership players Sam Finigan and Brody Hickey will be a significant boost to the Magpies’ chances while Angus Allen, the brother of West Coast Eagles rising star Oscar Allen, has also committed to playing for the club. An anterior cruciate ligament injury to Luke Hutcheson late last season will have the rugged defender sidelined for 2021 and the Magpies will also need to fill the void left by youngster Matt Dykes, while it appears prized recruit and former AFL star Ash McGrath won’t play. The Magpies have also landed dual Kleemann medallist and Railways premiership player Zane Marwick after it was revealed on Thursday he wants to play with his brother Coen. He will play in the opening round and club is hopeful their newest recruit will play a portion of the season. Smallwood said he had not had any discussions with McGrath about playing this season and they would also be without dominant big man Shayne Zanetti for the early part of the season due to injury. Tyler Stone and Kaden King-Davies will also be regular players this season and Smallwood was bullish on his side’s chances of being at the pointy end. “The older guys get a year older but the younger guys get a year’s more experience,” he said. “We’ll probably have a slow start to the year and hopefully build as the season goes on. “Some of the guys who have missed a bit of footy will take time to build into game fitness. “The likes of Tom Candy, Noah Madaffari and Jesse Court have been training well, so we’ll have improvement from our young kids as well.” Smallwood, a successful senior coach with a number of country clubs, said his finals experience would be of benefit if the Magpies could finish in the top four. “I have coached and played through a number of finals so I can bring a bit of finals experience and preparation for big games,” he said. “But that is getting a bit ahead of ourselves, we have to focus on round one. “I think I’ll bring some structure and discipline and educate the players on one percenters and hopefully help them all improve. “If everyone can improve by 5 per cent hopefully there is the improvement we are chasing.” Alec Haskins will captain the Magpies this season with Tom Candy and veteran Ryan Gaerth his vice-captains while Coen Marwick and Cody Kerr are also in the leadership group. Livewire Jayden Woods is a confirmed starter for the Magpies and they have also retained tough nut Brodie Reeve from Manjimup. DENMARK-WALPOLE Coach: Alan Smallwood Captain: Alec Haskins 2020 finish: Runners-up Ins: Zane Marwick (Melville), Sam Finigan (returning), Brody Hickey (returning), Angus Allen. Outs: Ash McGrath, Matt Dykes (Newdegate), Luke Hutcheson (injury), Josh Crook, Kenny De Campo, Ben Farquhar.