All the latest recruits in the Ovens and Murray league for season 2025
The off-season is well underway for Ovens and Murray league clubs who have unveiled a host of recruits for 2025. Here are all the moves in our signing tracker.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Ovens and Murray league is expected to be another close competition next year as clubs look to recruit for 2025.
All teams will be chasing Wangaratta Rovers after it stunned the competition, winning the premiership over Yarrawonga.
Check out the list of recruits for the Ovens and Murray below.
ALBURY
Ryan Garthwaite: The former AFL player is joining Albury for next season. The defender played 14 games for Richmond between 2017 and 2021 before moving to Adelaide to play with South Adelaide in the SANFL. Recently he played with Montrose in the Eastern league and now makes the move up north to the Ovens and Murray league.
George Favero: The former Albury junior returns to the club next year. Favero spent last season at Mitta United, making five appearances in seniors in the Tallangatta league.
Ethan Moore: Another former Albury junior is back. Moore played for Holbrook in the Hume league last year, making four appearances in seniors.
Billy Robertson: Rejoins Albury after playing football in Melbourne for the past few years. Recently, he’s been playing for Monash Blues in the VAFA and played in five games last season.
Jake Pitt: Joins the Tigers with plenty of experience in footy. He won a premiership last year with Leopold in the Geelong league and has also played for Geelong in the VFL and Glenelg in the SANFL reserves.
Ryan Miller: Announced as a new signing for the Tigers in November.
Tiernan Miller: Joins from the Billabong Crows in the Hume league. A consistent player who is looking to make the next step up in 2025.
Jacob Murphy: Moves to the Tigers from Kiewa Sandy Creek in the Tallangatta league. Played a couple of senior games for the Hawks during the year.
Nicholas Kelson: Joins the Tigers from Redan in the Ballarat league. A versatile player who can play in a few positions around the ground.
George Flanagan: Moves to the club from Jindera in the Hume league. Played 12 games this year in seniors.
Kai Wilson: Moves to the Tigers after playing one game last season for Henty last season in the Hume league.
Matt Bender: Joins Albury after playing for Holbrook in the Hume league. Bender won the premiership with the club in 2022.
Note: Aidan Johnson signed with the Tigers before he was drafted to Melbourne in the AFL.
COROWA RUTHERGLEN
Daryn Cresswell: The Kangaroos announced the former Sydney and North Melbourne player would be joining the club as coach for the next two seasons. Cresswell has come from Cairns where he coached South Cairns to the premiership this season. He has also coached Wangaratta Rovers in the competition before.
Jack Rowston: Joins Corowa Rutherglen after playing more than 100 senior games in the Riverina league with Griffith Swans. Rowston is capable of playing in the midfield or defence and was part of the team of the year last year for the competition as a half back.
Finn Osborne: Comes back to the club after playing in the Ovens and Murray premiership with Wangaratta Rovers last season. Osborne is a former under-18 representative player and played 21 senior games last season.
Nathan Richards: A premier ruckman in country footy. Richards joins the Kangaroos from Griffith in the Riverina league. Last season he was the best and fairest in the competition.
Kaelan Bradtke: The former Richmond player comes back to the club after kicking 39 goals in 17 games in 2022, which got him attention from AFL clubs. The key forward/ruckman recently has been playing for Geelong’s VFL side.
Deaken Clancy: Comes back to the club after playing for CDHBU in the Hume league for the past two years. Clancy will be looking to crack into the senior team during the season.
Tyler Roos: The son of AFL legend Paul, Roos joins the Kangaroos after playing for South Cairns last season, the same club as new coach Daryn Cresswell. Roos played for Corowa Rutherglen earlier this year and will now join the club full time. He is also a VFL premiership player with Southport.
Ray Murphy: Comes to the club after playing for Greenvale in the Essendon District league. The midfielder had an injury plagued year and will be hoping to bounce back next year and make an impact at his new club.
Taj Smith: Returns to Corowa Rutherglen after playing for Wahgunyah last season in the Tallangatta league. Smith played in the under-18 Kangaroos side which made the grand final in 2022.
Fletcher Parker: A tough and competitive forward. Parker joins from Holbrook in the Hume league and kicked 35 goals in 2023. Sure to make an impact in the competition.
Peter Whyte: Another player who returns to the club for next year. Last season he played for Howlong in the Hume league and made eight appearances in seniors.
Matt Wilson: The former Corowa Rutherglen midfielder is back after playing in the Hume league recently. Last season he played for Howlong, kicking 20 goals in 18 games and being a major threat in the middle.
Jaiden Butson: Joins the club from Central Trinity Beach in Cairns. Last season he finished third in the league’s best and fairest. Butson is a hard-working midfielder who will also be trying out for Collingwood’s VFL team in the off-season.
Paddy Lavis: Comes back to the club after playing in the Hume league for CDHBU. He kicked 17 goals in 21 games and was a part of Corowa Rutherglen’s under-18 premiership winning team in 2023.
Liam McCarthy: McCarthy is another signing from South Cairns, joining Cresswell at the club. The new Kangaroo is a big bodied player who has VFL experience after playing for Geelong during his career.
Deklan Yates: Makes a full-time move after playing a couple of reserves games for the Kangaroos last year. Yates played for CDHBU last season in the Hume league, making 17 appearances in seniors and reserves.
Josh Clayton: The former Brisbane Lions player will be a Kangaroo in 2025 after joining the club. Clayton in recent years has played for South Cairns and also won a premiership with Southport in the VFL. He is a midfielder who can also play in the forward line.
Luke Heagney: Rejoins the Kangaroos after playing for the past couple of years for Coreen Daysdale Hopefield Buraja in the Hume league. Last year he played three games in seniors and 12 games in reserves.
Joey Ugle: The former North Melbourne VFL player makes the move to the Kangaroos next year. Ugle last year played at South Cairns, alongside Cresswell, with the midfielder known for his explosive pace and skills. Ugle also played for Perth in the WAFL during his career.
Riley Irvin: Joins Corowa after one of his best years in footy in 2024. He won the best and fairest for his club, Barellan United, and was also part of the team of the year in the Farrer league.
LAVINGTON
Ed Perryman: Joins the Panthers from Collingullie in the Riverina league. Perryman is a premiership player and is a versatile player capable of playing in multiple positions.
Alex Bennett: Returns to the club for 2025. Bennett played for VAFA side the Monash Blues in 2024 and was runner up in their best and fairest. He is a player capable of playing at both ends of the ground.
MYRTLEFORD
Mitchell Tenardi: The WA player has joined the Saints next year to join a couple of his mates at the club. The midfielder has played for Busselton for the past few years and is a seven time best-and-fairest winner.
Declan Bren: Returns to the club after a season with Bright in the Ovens and King league. Last season he kicked 50 goals in the seniors and will be looking to continue that form next year.
Riley Smith: The ruckman joins Myrtleford after playing a few years in Western Australia. In 2022 and 2023 he played for Peel Thunder, playing in the grand final of the WAFL in 2023.
NORTH ALBURY
Kane Flack: Joins the club from Collingullie in the Riverina league. Flack last season won the best player on the ground award as his team won the premiership. He is one of the premier midfielders in the competition and has been in the team of the year three times.
James Pope: A key defender who also joins the club from Collingullie in the Riverina league. Pope played in last season's premiership for the club.
Angus Crelley: Joins the Hoppers from Leeton-Whitton in the Riverina league. A midfielder who can also play in the forward line, Crelley won the best and fairest at the club last year.
Jordan McKenzie: Comes back to North Albury after playing for Mitta Mitta in the Tallangatta league for the past five seasons.. He kicked 17 goals last season.
Ben Rigoni: The former Seymour midfielder has signed with North Albury for next year. Rigoni has spent the past two seasons with Coburg in the VFL and in 2022 was the best and fairest in the Goulburn Valley league. A major signing for the competition.
Logan Hamilton: Joins the Hoppers from Holbrook in the Hume league. He has made 58 appearances in the past four years for the club.
Jamie Mooney: Another Collingullie player who joins North Albury. The key defender helped the team to win last year’s premiership in the Riverina league.
WANGARATTA
Jason Heatley: Heatley is the new coach of the Wangaratta Magpies, taking over from Ben Reid who ended his tenure at the end of the 2024 season. The former West Coast and St Kilda forward has previously coached for North Heidelberg, Heidelberg and Northcote Park.
Parker Heatley: Moves to Wangaratta from North Heidelberg in the Northern league. Last season he kicked 60 goals to be the leading goalkicker in the competition.
Jasper Craven: Joins the Magpies from Aspley in the QAFL. A player who can play in a few positions, Craven in 2023 won the best and fairest at the club as the team won the premiership.
WANGARATTA ROVERS
Charlie Thompson: Comes back to the Rovers after playing in the state leagues for the past few years. Thompson played for Coburg in 2021 and 2022 before playing for Perth in the past two seasons. He will play full time in the Ovens and Murray in 2025.
WODONGA
Tom O’Sullivan: The younger brother of Wodonga coach Jack O’Sullivan joins the Bulldogs for next year. Last season he played for Greensborough in 13 matches in the Northern league.
Ethan Stubbs: The midfielder joins the club from New South Wales. A former GWS academy player he played for Manly Warringah recently.
Nic Stephens: Moves to Wodonga after playing for Chiltern in the Tallangatta league. The defender has helped the Swans to win two of the past three premierships.
Tom Osmotherly: A ruckman who makes the move to the Ovens and Murray league from Thurgoona in the Tallangatta league. Previously he played for the Wagga Tigers and helped them to a premiership.
WODONGA RAIDERS
Alex Pocock: Moves to the Raiders from Newtown & Chilwell. He previously played for the club in 2021 and brings valuable experience to the squad.
Corey Rich: The midfielder joins the club from Williamstown in the VFL. Rich will provide plenty of experience after playing more than 100 VFL games during his career.
Chris Anderson: Moves to the club from Chiltern in the Tallangatta league. Anderson is a midfielder who has played more than 150 games for the Swans.
Ethan Boxall: The Chiltern premiership player has signed on for the Raiders for next year. He returns to the club and is a forward who kicked 80 goals for the Swans in the 2022 season.
Will Fordham: The midfielder joins after playing more than 150 VFL games over the past few years. Last season he played for Williamstown in the VFL. Fordham will provide valuable experience to the Raiders.
YARRAWONGA
Sam Trembath: Joins the Pigeons after playing for Barooga in the Murray league last year. He kicked 23 goals in the under-17s and also played a few games in the seniors.
Jordan Ibbott: Comes back to Yarrawonga after one season at Mulwala in the Murray league. Ibbott played 24 games in three grades - under-17, reserves and seniors.
Riley Bone: Another player who returns to the Pigeons after playing in the Murray league. Bone joins after playing for Mulwala.
Brock Johnson: The junior ruckman comes to Yarrawonga next year. Johnson played for Mulwala last year and made most of his appearances in under-17 while also playing four senior games. A prospect for the future.
Nate Grieves: The midfielder joins Yarrawonga after playing for Tocumwal in the Picola league last year. He’s expected to play under-18s for most of next season.
Malique Beer: Has made the move to Yarrawonga from Tungamah in the Picola league. The new recruit is a forward who is ready to have a crack at Ovens and Murray.
Max Findlay: Joins the Pigeons from Charles Sturt University in the Farrer league. In 2022 and 2024 he won the best and fairest at the club and was also named as part of the team of the year in the Farrer league in those seasons.
Baz McDonald: Joins from Nathalia in the Murray league.
Jensen Hargreaves: Moves to the Pigeons from Hay in the Golden Rivers league. The young midfielder, who played in the grand final in the competition, also played for the Murray Bushrangers during 2024.
Local footy competition loses two senior teams
A Melbourne local footy competition has been forced to into a swift change of fixture for the 2025 season with two clubs dropping out of the senior and reserves grades.
Powerhouse clubs sign up for Gather Round on Murray
Yarrawonga is hosting its inaugural football-netball Gather Round event next month. See which clubs have committed to playing.