Kyabram District: Nagambie and Murchison-Toolamba to meet in grand final preview

The disappointment of grand final defeat has Murchison-Toolamba hoping they can go one better this year. Read the report and see the photos from their latest win.

Lawn bowls champ-turned-football coach Brett Foley has Murchison-Toolamba well positioned for another shot at premiership glory in the Kyabram District league.

Last season’s runner-up is on an 11-match winning streak, with Dookie United its most recent scalp last Saturday.

Murchison-Toolamba heads into a likely grand final preview on Saturday against the only team it has lost to this season, Nagambie.

Foley, a one-time national lawn bowls squad member, has taken over as senior coach of Murchison-Toolamba after a seven-year absence from football.

First-year Murchison-Toolamba coach Brett Foley. Pictures: Yuri Kouzmin

His playing career ended abruptly when he suffered a serious knee injury playing for Shepparton East and then switched his sporting focus to lawn bowls where he soon became one of the Goulburn Valley region’s best players.

He then played and coached at Melbourne premier division club Altona before returning to the GV.

Overlooked for the coaching job at his old club, Shepparton East, Foley was appointed coach of Murchison-Toolamba when Nick Ioranni stood down at the end of last season.

“We are going along nicely and have won a few games in a row now,” he said.

“It’s a massive game against Nagambie.

“They easily beat us in round 2; they jumped us early and we had a terrible day to be honest.”

Murchison-Toolamba’s Andrew Lloyd soars for a mark.

Murchison-Toolamba, which beat Dookie United last round, is set to be bolstered by the return of mid-season acquisition Charles McAdam and small forward Aaron Miller.

“I always wanted to coach senior footy,” Foley said.

“We’ve got a good bunch of blokes and the club is in a good spot compared to where they were about five years ago.”

This season could be Murchison-Toolamba’s last in the KDFNL with the club exploring a move to the proposed new competition made up mostly of Picola and District league clubs that want to be affiliated with AFL Victoria.

“We’re looking to get into a league where everyone can play on the same day,” Foley said.

The KDFNL doesn’t have a full complement of teams in its under-18 and under-13 competitions.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Leigh Wellington out-marks Dookie United opponent Jarrad Newman.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Fletcher Paul and Dookie United’s Tom Johnstone compete in the ruck.

Murchison-Toolamba’s James Milne arrives late to spoil.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Michael Coad arrives late to spoil Dookie United opponent Aaron Lynn.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Andrew Lloyd punches the ball clear of Dookie United pair Joshua Kezerle and Kyle Tapscott.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Kellyn Saunders arrives late to spoil.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Aidan Lloyd prepares to tackle a Dookie United opponent.

Murchison-Toolamba’s James Lloyd out-marks two Dookie United opponents, Rhys O'Sullivan and James Nugent.

Murchison-Toolamba won its 11th match in a row on Saturday.

Dookie United’s Ryan McKenna handballs off to a teammate.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Jacob Ewart attempts to gather the ball.

Murchison-Toolamba’s Adam Macgibbon tackles Dookie United’s Henry Cook high.

Dookie United’s Tom Johnstone launches over the top of Murchison-Toolamba’s Jayedo Hexter.

Dookie United’s Ben Dyer is sandwiched in a marking contest with Murchison-Toolamba pair Tom Kerrins and Jayedo Hexter.

Dookie United’s Spencer Gillespie takes front position in front of a big pack of players.