Bendigo: Tyrone Downie returns in new look Kangaroo Flat coaching structure
After a turbulent two years, Kangaroo Flat is putting its faith in three former coaches for a major rebuild. See the latest coaching moves.
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Kangaroo Flat has turned to three former coaches to lead the club back up the Bendigo league ladder.
Tyrone Downie will return for a second stint as coach with the man who replaced him after his first stint, Jason Stevens, also returning in a head of football role.
And the man who took over as coach from Stevens, Corey Greer is coming back as a senior assistant coach as the club begins a major rebuild following a turbulent past two years.
“We’re really partnering up,” Downie said.
“We’re trying to combine all our skills together and get the job done.
“We’re not shying away from the job at hand.
“There is a lot of work to do, but we’re really confident that between ourselves we can do the job and create an environment for players to return to Kangaroo Flat and retain our existing list.
“And then hopefully bring a couple in over the top to fill the gaps.”
Downie previously coached Kangaroo Flat in 2012-13 before Stevens and Greer also had two two-year stints.
Downie is originally from Murray league club Barooga and at the age of 26 was drafted by Gold Coast onto its rookie list in 2015 alongside Adam Saad, who is now playing for Carlton.
In addition to his senior coaching job, Stevens also coached Kangaroo Flat’s under-18 premiership team in 2019.
Greer is originally from Yarrawonga and played in the club’s 2013 premiership team alongside Brendan Fevola before moving to Bendigo and joining Kangaroo Flat.
Kangaroo Flat beat Maryborough and South Bendigo in the first three rounds, but has had only one other victory this season.
Downie takes over as coach from Michael Ellings.
Kangaroo Flat lost three of its last five matches by more than 100 points including a 197-point thrashing from Gisborne in last round.
KOROIT
Koroit will have co-coaches in the Hampden league next season with the return of four-time premiership player Sam Dobson to work alongside current coach Chris McLaren.
The key forward left the club following its 2022 flag win for a second stint with Geelong club St Mary’s.
But Dobson will be returning next year in a massive boost for the club which is poised for another finals campaign.
“To have Sam back at Koroit is fantastic for our club,” McLaren said.
“Obviously he is an exceptionally talented footballer so we are very lucky in that aspect, but more importantly he’s a great person, so to have him, his wife Emily-Rose and their growing family back with us is very exciting.
“Sam will be a great coach and I am looking forward to being involved in setting up the club on its next path for success.”
Dobson’s current club, St Mary’s, is shaping as the biggest threat to St Joseph’s winning the Geelong league flag this year.
But he could miss the premiership charge because of a broken collarbone he suffered earlier this month.
Dobson has kicked 30 goals from 11 matches this year.
“Koroit has always been my home club and while I have enjoyed my second stint at St Mary’s it was always my intention to return home,” he said.
“I have always wanted to coach and the time is right.
“I’ve missed Koroit, the players and teammates and it’s great to be returning.
“I’m looking forward to sharing the role with Chris and excited about the future at Koroit.
“It’s great to see so many young players coming through and there’s a great buzz around the club.”
CALDER UNITED
Calder United has settled on its coaching set-up for the debut season as a merged club with first-year Nullawil coach Darryl Wilson to be joined by the current club captain Jordy Humphreys.
Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport will merge next year to become Calder United in the North Central league with the co-coaches appointment coming in the lead-up to their final matches as stand-alone clubs against each other on Saturday.
To make finals, Nullawil must beat Wycheproof-Narraport and rely on fourth-placed Wedderburn losing to Donald.
Nullawil lost to Wedderburn last Saturday and third-placed Donald suffered a shock loss to out-of-contention Boort.
On a day of major upsets, Wycheproof-Narraport also rolled ladder leaders Birchip-Watchem in its last home match as a stand-alone club.
Wilson joined Nullawil after successful stints in charge of Bendigo and Heathcote District league clubs.
But for 22-year-old Humphreys it will be his first crack as a senior coach after playing his entire career at Nullawil.
“Jordy will obviously be our on field leader and we will have Darryl doing the off-field stuff,” Calder United spokesman Rick Allan said.
“It will be a fantastic set up.”
Current Wycheproof-Narraport coach Wayne Mitrovic ruled himself out of contention.
“I’ve always wanted to be a coach,” Humphreys said.
“I’m only young, but I feel like I’m ready to have a crack and take that next step.
“I’m all for the merger.
“We could have held off for a bit longer, but it was a positive to make a move while we still had a side.”
Like many of his teammates, Humphreys has had an injury-interrupted season, but has used the time on the sidelines to gain a deeper understanding of coaching, observing Wilson.
“I’ve always loved footy,” he said.
“But there are things you don’t think of or see, especially when you’re playing, compared to someone on the sidelines.”
YARRAWONGA
Star forward Leigh Williams will takeover as coach of Ovens & Murray league reigning premier Yarrawonga next year.
The former Melbourne draftee will replace Steve Johnson as coach with the former Geelong superstar still to confirm what club he will coach next year with interest from Geelong league clubs and his original team, Wangaratta.
Williams joined Yarrawonga in 2022 and won the league’s goalkicking award, the Doug Strang Medal, in his debut season.
He has kicked 48 goals this year to be sitting third behind North Albury’s Josh Minogue on 59 and Wangaratta’s Callum Moore on 49.
Williams captain the O&M interleague team to a thrilling win against Goulburn Valley at Albury last year.
“The club could not be more excited to be filling all its roles from within the playing group,” the club said in a statement.
Sidelined superstar Leigh Masters had also been touted as a potential replacement for Johnson, but he will remain co-coach of the club’s under-18s team with former premiership player, Matt Dwyer.
Masters recently ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in a huge blow for the club’s plans to go back-to-back under the Johnson next month.
BAIRNSDALE
Logan Austin will finish up as Bairnsdale coach at the end of the season after three years in charge of the Gippsland League club.
The versatile key position player made the move into coaching with Bairnsdale after previously playing for Rochester in the Goulburn Valley league in the 2021 Covid-shortened season.
He also played 20 matches at AFL senior level with Port Adelaide and St Kilda.
Austin commuted from Melbourne to coach Bairnsdale and despite the large travel commitment, the Redlegs were in contention to play finals for the first time since 2014 until losing to Wonthaggi last Saturday.
Austin won Bairnsdale’s best and fairest in 2022.
He is returning to South Australia next year.
“Logan has been a positive force and laid a playing foundation we will continue to build upon,” Bairnsdale president Michael Mann said.
“We’re mid-transformation and are more competitive and regaining some relevance in the Gippsland league.
“Our 2022 best and fairest is an elite player and a terrific bloke whose coaching has been first class.
“As a player, he often sacrificed his own game for the team’s benefit.
“As a coach, the club has no doubt he will continue to further develop this at state league level in the near future.”
Bairnsdale plays reigning premier Leongatha and Sale in the last two rounds before hosting the Gippsland league elimination final.
SANDHURST
Bendigo league star Lachlan Tardrew will step up to a co-coaching role with flag contender Sandhurst next year.
Tardrew will coach alongside Bryce Curnow with the club’s current co-coach Ash Connick stepping down after six years in the job.
Sandhurst lost a thrilling grand final last year to Golden Square with the reigning premier scoring an upset win against the Dragons last round.
Tardrew has made a full-time return to his original club this season after being on Collingwood’s VFL list in recent seasons.
He played 19 matches for the Magpies last year including two finals and also played three matches for Sandhurst.
MOOROOPNA
Goulburn Valley league club Mooroopna has locked in John Lamont for another two seasons as coach.
The former Werribee VFL coach and North Melbourne development coach has resurrected Mooroopna’s on field fortunes since his arrival at the club in the lead-up to the 2020 season that was totally wiped out by Covid.
It has played in back-to-back finals series in 2022-23 under Lamont and is on track for more September action.
Mooroopna is sitting in fourth spot, eight points clear of last year’s runner-up Kyabram, which it plays on Saturday.
STAWELL
Former Goulburn Valley league premiership player James Sullivan will take over as Stawell coach next year.
Sullivan will replace Tom Eckel after the last five years in the job that included winning the Wimmer league’s Toohey Medal.
Sullivan played in Tatura’s 2012 GV flag team before a brief stint at VFL team Box Hill.
He joined Stawell this year from Caulfield Bears, which play in the Southern league in Melbourne.
Stawell is sitting third on the ladder with four rounds remaining after stumbling against Nhill a fortnight ago before a bye last weekend.
The Warriors can guarantee a double chance finish by beating fourth-placed Horsham Demons on Saturday.
WANGARATTA
Wangaratta will sound out Steve Johnson about returning to his original club to coach next season after its present coach confirmed he would be departing at the end of the season.
Collingwood 2010 premiership player Ben Reid has been Wangaratta coach for the last three years.
But he informed the club at the weekend he would be finishing up with a move to Queensland on the cards.
Johnson started his career with Wangaratta before being drafted by Geelong and playing in three flags and winning a Norm Smith Medal with the Cats.
He returned to the region nearly two years ago to take up the Yarrawonga coaching job and led the club to a thrilling grand final win against Albury last season.
Johnson will also coach out the season with Yarrawonga.
“Ideally we will get someone sooner rather than later, but the reality is it could take until the end of the season,” Wangaratta co-president Jon Henry said.
“We will inquire about what (Johnson) is up to for sure.
“But he’s coaching another Ovens & Murray club at the moment so we will respect that.
“We’re going to cast the net pretty wide.
“We will also have discussions about whether there is anyone in our playing group that has got the capacity.
“There are also some pretty good guys off the ground.”
Geelong league clubs are also interested in securing Johnson as coach in 2025.
Henry praised the impact Reid has had as coach of Wangaratta, particularly this season when the club started 0-4 before recovering to be almost certain of playing finals.
“His coaching, particularly in the last eight weeks, has been first class,” Henry said.
“The way he has developed the guys, the younger guys coming in have been given opportunities.
“We’ve been able to remain very competitive with a few guys out.”
Reid retired as a player at the end of last season.
He coached Wangaratta in 2022 when the club narrowly beat Yarrawonga in the grand final, but was stripped of the premiership by the O&M league for being over the salary cap.
HARROW-BALMORAL
Former Geelong league star Jai Thompson is staying on for another season as coach of Harrow-Balmoral in the Horsham District league.
Harrow-Balmoral capped off a dominant 2023 as premiers and champions and is sitting on top of the ladder undefeated after 12 rounds this year.
He joined Harrow-Balmoral after being a premiership captain at Leopold and Geelong interleague player.
“Jai is a great player in his own right and playing some of his best football this season,” Harrow-Balmoral football manager Robert Close said.
“Jai continues to give excellent drive and energy to all players in the club, especially with the development of our up-and-coming juniors into senior players.
“Jai has a passion for football and our wider community bringing us all together.”
BENALLA
Former AFL star Jarrad Waite has committed to reviving Benalla’s on field fortunes by staying on as coach for another year.
Waite returned to his original club in 2023 as a player before becoming coach this year.
He has played nine matches for Benalla this season at the age of 41 including its best win this season against Shepparton Swans when he kicked three goals.
“Jarrad is committed to improving both the players on the ground and the club at a broader level,” the club said.
“Over the past two years, he has been instrumental in the growth and development of every player, ensuring they understand and excel in their roles within the team.
“Jarrad is pleased with the current progress and is eager to continue building on this foundation, watching the team excel further.”
COHUNA KANGAS
Central Murray club Cohuna Kangas have locked in former Bendigo league star Jack Geary for another season as coach.
Geary joined the Kangas this year after being one of the modern greats of the Bendigo league where he played in six premierships for Golden Square including last year’s thrilling win against Sandhurst.
He was named best-on-ground in a grand final for a third time and also captained the club to victory.
His reappointment at the Kangas came after the club’s most important win of the season to date recently against last year’s runner-up, Balranald.
Cohuna has closed to within one win of fifth-placed Balranald and faces third-placed Mallee Eagles on Saturday.
“Jack has brought an incredible wealth of knowledge and a winning spirit in which we all love as a club and community,” Cohuna Kangas said in a statement on his reappointment.
“His connection with his players and also the members and supporters has been fantastic and we very much look forward to continuing this.”
Cohuna Kangas are making another bid to join the Heathcote District league in 2025.
Golden Square 2023 premiership teammate Jake Thrum also entered the coaching ranks this season at Sunraysia reigning premier Irymple.
ALBURY
Albury has turned to a rookie coach who had his AFL career cut short from repeated concussions, to lead the club for the next three years in the Ovens & Murray league.
Max Lynch played 11 matches for Collingwood and Hawthorn before being forced into premature retirement nearly 12 months ago.
Due to his history, the AFL’s independent medical concussion panel recommended the 25-year-old no longer play contact sport following another head knock against Adelaide in May last year.
He played for Jindera, Albury and the Murray Bushrangers before being taken in the 2017 rookie draft.
Sine returning to Albury where he works as a teacher and has been playing soccer in the local competition, Lynch spent time with Hawthorn’s AFLW coaching staff.
“Max is an outstanding candidate to lead our great club into the future,” Albury president Lindsay Rollings said.
“He brings a wealth of experience from the AFL and AFLW and has natural leadership, education and communication skills.”
Albury’s present coaches, former AFL player Anthony Miles and club legend Shaun Daly, will step down at season’s end with the Tigers locked in a tough battle to play finals after losing the grand final narrowly to Yarrawonga last year.
It hasn’t missed finals since 2008, but finds itself out of the top five with eight matches remaining.
Former Wodonga Raiders and Wangaratta Rovers coach, Daryn Cresswell, had been linked to the Albury coaching job.
But the Lynch appointment at Albury removes the biggest obstacle to Corowa-Rutherglen securing Cresswell as coach for 2025.
Meanwhile, Wodonga Raiders have also locked in a coach for next year with Chad Owens also returning to his original club.
Owens most recently had a stint with Goulburn Valley club Mansfield including a preliminary final finish in 2022.
The Raiders are chasing a playing co-coach to work alongside Owens, whose early signing gives the struggling club a chance to begin recruiting and shoring up its current list.
The key signature will be former Brisbane and Adelaide player Cam Ellis-Yolmen, who has been at the club for two years.
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Originally published as Bendigo: Tyrone Downie returns in new look Kangaroo Flat coaching structure
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