Bendigo: Strathfieldsaye flag coach Darryl Wilson appointed Nullawil coach

The Bendigo footy league will look very different next season after a stack off-season moves, including the exit of a triple premiership coach. See the latest.

The Bendigo league is under siege with top-end players and coaches being wooed to district league clubs at a higher rate than recent off-seasons.

Reigning premier Golden Square has experienced one of the biggest drains of talent.

But Sandhurst – which lost the grand final to Golden Square and beaten preliminary finalist, Strathfieldsaye – haven’t been immune from raids.

Joining a growing list of coaches and players heading bush this week was Strathfieldsaye’s triple premiership coach Darryl Wilson.

Strathfieldsaye Storm triple premiership coach Darryl Wilson has been appointed coach of Nullawil. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

He has taken on the coaching job at Nullawil, which made a grand final in its first season in the North Central league this year.

Wilson also coached Colbinabbin to premierships in the Heathcote District league and was reluctant to coach against the two teams he had the ultimate success with.

“I was a bit limited with where I could go,” he said.

“But just the passion, commitment and want to be successful became a real driver to go to Nullawil.

“They weren’t far off winning it, had a couple of injuries, and if (Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers) didn’t have Josh Jenkins they probably would have won.

“The aim is just to get better and want to succeed.”

Wilson takes over from Brett Barker, who coached Nullawil to its last flag in 2022 in the Golden Rivers league before the switch to the North Central.

Strathfieldsaye is still to appoint a replacement for Wilson.

Golden Square premiership players also accepting coaching jobs away from the Bendigo league include Jack Geary (Cohuna Kangas), Hamish Morcom (Huntly) and most recently Jake Thrum (Irymple) and Liam Barrett (Moama).

Golden Square’s Jack Geary, right, will coach Cohuna Kangas in 2024. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

It follows the shock sacking of premiership coach Christian Carter.

Importantly, Golden Square has been able to hang onto best and fairest winner and star midfielder, Tom Toma.

Sandhurst best and fairest of the past two seasons Hamish Hosking will play for Birchip-Watchem in the North Central league and teammate Lee Coghlan is heading back to his original club Bridgewater where Strathfieldsaye trio Lachlan Sharp, Harry Conway and Jack Neylon will also play.

Strathfieldsaye’s Lachlan Sharp has been appointed co-coach of Bridgewater.

Sharp, Bendigo league’s most productive goalkicker in the modern era, will co-coach the Heathcote District league club alongside Hawthorn premiership player and Golden Square premiership coach Rick Ladson.

Sharp, Geary and Coghlan are all Michelsen Medal winners.

The only Bendigo league club making ground in the recruiting stakes is Castlemaine which has secured former VFL player and Goulburn Valley league star Michael Hartley as coach.

The list of Castlemaine recruits include Ben Quaynor, the brother of Collingwood premiership player Isaac.

Sandhurst ruckman Hamish Hosking, left, playing in this year’s grand final against Golden Square. Picture: SAA Imaging

It has also been able to regain former players Declan Slingo, Darby Semmens, Kalan Huntly and Zavier Murley from other clubs with Murley also playing in the Golden Square premiership team this year.

The player exodus comes at a time when the Bendigo league will drop to nine clubs next year with Kyneton defecting to the Riddell District league.