Country footy’s 2024 team of the year revealed

See who made the country footy team of the year, and which recent premiership coach has been chosen to lead it.

Mildura Imperials have achieved the same incredible feat they did 11 years ago in winning the Sunraysia league premiership after claiming the wooden spoon the previous season.

But in the player points and salary cap era, rebuilds from bottom-of-the-ladder finishes to contending for premierships are meant to require staying power and strategy.

Patience was included in Imperials’ resurrection plans.

They were hoping to be fighting for a flag in the final season of a three-year coaching deal Brad Vallance accepted 12 months ago.

Imperials premiership coach Brad Vallance. Picture: Noel Fisher

But what transpired this season under the former Ouyen United coach and premiership captain has already become folklore at the league’s most successful club.

“Things have to fall your way to win a premiership,“ Imperials president Dale Stafford said.

“You need your key personnel out on the park and we were able to do that for the bulk of the year.

“Our goal at the end of Brad’s tenure was to be playing off in a grand final.

“But our group has been so galvanised, they put their heads down and did the work and the ultimate came early.”

Signing Essendon player Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who kicked two goals in the grand final, was a pivotal moment in the Imperials’ turnaround.

But there were other players recruited or agreed to return, including McLeod Medal winner Bryce Hards.

Wentworth’s Jarrod Brander kicked 92 goals in the Sunraysia league this season. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Ben Galbraith and Matt Mazzini, who played in Melbourne and South Australia last year, also came back.

Key defender Reegan Scott sat out the winless 2023 season as did the coach, who was also seriously injured playing in Darwin in early 2000.

Imperials beat Wentworth in the grand final by three points and Vallance is a standout choice as The Weekly Times’ Team-of-the-Year coach.

Tyrendarra’s Sam Anson was named his assistant after coaching the South West District league club to the flag and winning the league’s best and fairest with a staggering 42 votes after polling in every match.

Traralgon premiership player Tye Hourigan, right, has been named at centre half-back in the Team-of-the-Year. Picture: Daniel Heathcote.

THE WEEKLY TIMES TEAM OF THE YEAR

BACK

Julian Hayes (North Albury), Liam Betson (St Josephs), Sam Beasley (Cobram)

HALF-BACK

Matt Johnston (East Point), Tye Hourigan (Traralgon), Jack McHale (Echuca)

CENTRE

Perry Lewis-Smith (Yarrawonga), Tom Williamson (Ararat), Riley Baldi (Moe)

HALF-FORWARD

Willie Wheeler (Yarrawonga), Jarrod Brander (Wentworth), Brad Bernacki (Gisborne)

FORWARD

Kyle Mueller (Congupna), Fergus Greene (Sandhurst), Ben Cunnington (Warrnambool)

FOLLOWERS

Ash Holland (Shepparton Bears), Lachlan Tardrew (Sandhurst), Jett Bermingham (North Warrnambool)

INTERCHANGE

Tom Marriott (Leongatha), Connor McDonald (Tooleybuc-Manangatang), Jake Thrum (Irymple), Joel Helman (Cohuna Kangas)

EMERGENCIES

Flynn Lakey (Gisborne), Josh Nitschke (Kerang), Josh Rentsch (Penshurst)

COACH: Brad Vallance (Imperials)

ASSISTANT COACH: Sam Anson (Tyrendarra)

Cobram's Sam Beasley, left, won the Murray league O’Dwyer Medal this season after a highly consistent season in the back half. Picture: Supplied

Originally published as Country footy’s 2024 team of the year revealed