League medallist Byron Wright is making a return to the Southern league

After one year away, one of the Southern league’s most exciting forwards is back and will line-up for a Division 2 power.

Byron Wright of Mitcham gathers the ball during the 2023 Eastern Football Netball League 1st Division Seniors Grand Final match between South Belgrave and Mitcham at Tormore Reserve in Boronia, Victoria on September 9, 2023. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Yet another big inclusion for the Lions.

Byron Wright is back in the Southern league and is set to lace up for Division 2 power Murrumbeena.

Wright won an EFNL 1st Division 1 flag with Mitcham this year after his heroics for Black Rock the year before.

A league medal and best-afield honours — which included the winning goal — in the Division 3 grand final headlined Wright’s 2022.

Wright’s 60th goal of the 2022 season was the winner in the final stages of the grand final.

Murrumbeena coach Michael Kinsella is familiar with Wright’s capabilities and is looking forward to having the livewire on his side.

“It’s definitely more sweet (than bitter), a lot of time has passed,” he said.

“He’s an absolute ripper, he’s won a premiership in the last two years for different clubs, so hopefully he can make it a third.

“He’s a ripper fella too, so he’s going to fit into our culture with the young boys.

“He adds a lot of pace around the forward line, he can get right up the ground or play deep, he has a huge amount of versatility for us.

“As we know in Southern games, the ball can sometimes get a bit sticky up the ground, and he’s got a huge amount of pace to burst through contests so we will definitely get him up the ground at times as well.”

Wright with Mitcham this season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

While Wright joins eight other strong recruits for Murrumbeena, Kinsella isn’t basking in his side’s strong off-season, dismissing the early premiership favourite title.

“It doesn’t mean too much really, we have to keep an absolute lid on it,” he said

“We have seen some fantastic teams get beaten and I haven’t seen an unbeatable team in Southern Div 2 before and we’re definitely not going to be unbeatable.

“We have to keep going with that hunter mentality.”