Sunraysia: South Mildura resurgence to be led by Jydon Neagle

The late Merv Neagle tasted premiership success in the Sunraysia country footy league in the early 2000s. Can his son do likewise?

South Mildura’s anticipated resurgence in the Sunraysia league this season begins with an opening round showdown against a team that showed major turnarounds can still happen.

Imperials went from wooden-spooners in 2023 to premiers last year, helped by the addition of former Essendon cult figure Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

South is coming from an even lower base with two wooden-spoon finishes in two of the other completed seasons since Covid.

Heading up it’s revival this season will be new coach Jydon Neagle, who almost delivered a flag in three years at Central Murray club Balranald.

He has been joined by brothers, Matt and Jaxon, Harrison Soraggi and Mason, Rory and Brodie Fitzgerald, who also played at Balranald last year.

Matt Neagle playing for Balranald in 2023. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The Fitzgerald brothers are originally from South Mildura and will be valuable one-point players.

Also coming back to South Mildura are Laine and Logan Fitzgerald, who played at Colbinabbin last year.

Jaxon will make a delayed start to the season due to a suspension in the Central Murray finals series last year.

“I just don’t want any 100-point shellackings like they’ve had over the last few years,” Jydon Neagle said.

“We want to be more competitive and if we win a few games that’s well and good.

“But we’re under no illusions where we’re starting from.”

The late Merv Neagle coaching Merbein in 2008. Pic. Supplied

Jydon’s late father Merv coached Balranald to a flag in 2006 and is also a dual premiership coach in the Sunraysia league with Merbein in 2002-03.

Merv also came back to coach Merbein in 2008.

Jydon said, like his father, he was motivated by the challenge of taking on clubs that had struggled.

“It’s another challenge,” he said.

“They put something good towards me and said they had a heap of really good kids.

“They’ve got brand new facilities in the middle of the Mildura sporting precinct and were just looking to get out of the rut they were in.”

South has practice matches against North Central premiers Sea Lake-Nandaly and Mildura Demons before taking on Imperials in round 1 next month.

“It will be a good test to see where we’re at,” Neagle said.