General News
5 November, 2021
Giants aim high as Corangamite Bowls starts
CAMPERDOWN is setting its sights high this Corangamite Bowls season.
CAMPERDOWN is setting its sights high this Corangamite Bowls season.
The side, which has adopted the Giants moniker along with new uniforms, is aiming to make the grand final after reaching last season’s preliminary final.
President Matthew Brewer said the Giants did extremely well last season given it lost several key players ahead of the opening round.
But with those players returning this season, the club is optimistic about what it could achieve.
“Honestly we probably thought we overachieved last year,” Brewer said.
“With what we had we did really well and we were stoked to get as far as we did and to get so close to getting into a grand final.
“The expectation this year is to make the grand final I think, especially with the inclusion of players. We have Mark McDonald back, he had a year off last year and Geoff Roney too, he’s been one of the better leaders in the comp.
“If we can get those two back in it just makes the list a little bit stronger.”
Brewer said the inclusion of Roney and McDonald will not only inject class into the Giants line-up but also provide extra depth to his club.
“Without sounding too harsh, limited personnel meant we were probably filling the second roles and even some of the lead spots and thirds we went with,” Brewer said.
“With the players coming in, it just strengthens the side, especially having a skipper and a dynamite leader.
“It just allows everyone to go down a peg or two and will make us a lot more consistent across the board and a lot better.”
Twelve rounds await clubs this season, with the opening four matches lost due to COVID.
The Giants will welcome Colac Central on opening day, with Brewer eager to record early wins.
“Especially kicking off at home, it would be nice to get a win to get us underway and then I think we have Lorne the week after,” he said.
“That’s going to be pretty tough down there, they’re a pretty good side.
“The early games set you up and that was the same as last year, early wins are vital.
“I think if you look back through the way the finals panned out last year, the majority of those sides that won their early games ended up being there.”
The club will also field division two and four sides, with division two set to face arch-rivals Camperdown Golf, while division four is at home against Cressy.
“Everyone’s been practicing for a couple of months now so I think everyone is really keen to get started and get underway,” Brewer said.
“It’s been a very hard period for everyone but a lot of people have missed their bowls and getting out and playing sport.
“We’re really looking forward to it and we’re hoping we should be able to give a good account of ourselves here (at home) on the weekend.”
The Giants’ new uniforms will be unveiled on Saturday, with the club to adopt a striking new royal blue and orange design.
Brewer said fellow Corangamite bowler Tim Hassett assisted the club with its new uniforms through his company Borne Apparel.
“We worked with him on the design and it’s a little bit similar up the stomach and torso area but we decided to go with different colours,” Brewer said.
“Probably the emphasis was on going with something nobody else had and that included placing the Camperdown on the back.
“We wanted something that would stand out so people know who we are.
“I think everyone loves it, they’ve embraced it and going forward it’s going to be really good and it’ll be a new look and fresh start for the club.”