Banyule adds former coach of biggest rival ahead of new Northern season

Banyule and Lower Plenty proved themselves the top two teams in NFL Division 2 this season and a major coaching addition will only heighten the rivalry.

Ben Turner during his time as coach of Lower Plenty. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Banyule might have pulled off the biggest recruiting coup of the off-season and he won’t play a game in 2022.

The Bears and Lower Plenty separated themselves from the pack in NFL Division 2 this season and that rivalry will only intensify next season with Ben Turner signing on as an assistant coach at Beverley Road.

Turner left Lower Plenty last month despite taking the club to a premiership in 2019 and a second-placed finish this season behind Banyule.

He’ll work closely with co-coaches Paul Harris and Ricky Dyson to form arguably the best coaching group in the Northern Football League.

Stepping up to co-coach next year, Dyson was looking forward to seeing Turner’s impact on the young Bears group.

“We were pretty quick (to sound Turner out), let’s be honest,” Dyson said.

“We saw an opportunity to bring someone in with the knowledge he does, he’s coached at Division 1 level, taken Greensborough to a grand final and a premiership coach at Lower Plenty.

“He’s going to add so much value to our club, he’s a terrific person and his knowledge of the competition is huge.

“He’s got a real interest in the development side of coaching so he’ll work with a lot of the younger guys to fast-track their growth, which is really exciting.

“We’ll be picking his brain as much as possible when we come up against Lower but it’s more about Ben as a person and coach, what he can bring us, not picking other teams apart.”

With the season ultimately unfinished, Banyule was awarded the minor premiership.

The Bears lost just one game in 2021, a 41-point defeat to Lower Plenty in what proved to be the second last game of the season.

Reuben Blackmore-Moore was crowned the Coaches’ MVP after an outstanding season, while star big man Tim Martin finished third in the league best-and-fairest.

Banyule coach Paul Harris. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Ricky Dyson in action for Banyule. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Jack Langford claimed the league goalkicking award – jointly with Diamond Creek’s Ryan Pingree – and was named in the Team of the Year along with Martin, Blackmore-Moore and Nick Mayne.

Harris was named Coach of the Year.

Dyson said the club was determined to contend for the premiership and promotion again.

“We’re really well placed and looking forward to an uninterrupted season next year,” he said.

“It was hard for everyone in the competition how we finished this year but we’ve had a chat as a group and 95 per cent will stick around and challenge again.

“I’ll be supporting Harro as much as I can, he’ll still be the senior coach … we’ve been doing it for the last couple of years and nothing much will change.”

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Dyson confirmed the arrival of Beau Moorcroft from Bundoora.

The forward-midfielder returned to the Bulls from Bright this season and crosses to Beverley Road after 44 Division 1 games at Yulong Reserve, including many under Dyson.

“Beau’s a quality person, works really hard, he’s played a lot of Division 1 football at Bundoora, so he’ll be a great addition to our forward and midfield group,” Dyson said.

“Outside of that, we’ve just worked hard to retain the group we’ve got because there’s a lot of talent in it. That’s our main focus.”