Tom Hams, Sam Murray, Tim Broomhead: Country footy’s top 10 rookie coaches of 2023

Taking a punt on a first-year coach is paying off for these country clubs. See who made the list.

Having the right coach can make or break the fortunes of a country footy club.

The good ones, motivated by the challenge and having the all important recruiting networks, are hard to find and the task of securing them can take weeks, if not months.

Often clubs decide to back in an untried coach, surround them with the right support crew and hit the jackpot as has happened again in 2023.

The Weekly Times has discovered 10 clubs benefiting from the decision to go with a rookie coach.

1. TOM HAMS, Inverloch-Kongwak

Inverloch-Kongwak coach Tom Hams with assistant coach Leigh Cole, right. Picture: Jackie Newman

Tom Hams has made a dream start to his senior coaching career with Inverloch-Kongwak, which won its first 10 matches of the season before beating second-placed Tooradin-Dalmore last Saturday.

He took over from 2017 premiership coach Ben Soumalis after the Sea Eagles crashed out in the first week of the West Gippsland league finals series.

Hams, who is originally from Sale and also played with South Bendigo, credits his support crew of Leigh Cole, Shane Bertacco and Paddy McGrath for a lot of their success in his debut coaching season.

2. KIERAN DELAHUNTY, Southern Mallee Giants

Southern Mallee Giants coach Kieran Delahunty. Picture: Georgia Hallam.

After a starring role in Minyip-Murtoa’s premiership and winning a third Wimmera league Toohey Medal last season, Delahunty took on his first coaching job with rival club Southern Mallee Giants.

The recruiting coup is paying dividends with the Giants shaping as the main danger to undefeated Ararat.

The Giants are sitting second on the ladder and play Ararat and the only other team they’ve lost to this season in back-to-back rounds in late July.

They missed finals last year when they suffered a spate of mid-season injuries.

3. STEVE JOHNSON, Yarrawonga

Yarrawonga coach Steve Johnson. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Steve Johnson inherited a team that lost the Ovens and Murray league grand final by only three points.

After a brilliant AFL career that included three flags for Geelong and a Norm Smith Medal for the best player in the Cats’ 2007 grand final destruction of Port Adelaide, Johnson had stints as an assistant coach with Sydney and GWS before taking charge of Yarrawonga.

Yarrawonga began the season with a 22-point loss to arch rivals Albury, but avenged that defeat last round with a 14-point victory over the Tigers.

Only other loss was to Wangaratta Rovers with the Pigeons back on top in a flag race with no clear cut favourite.

4. SAM MURRAY, Wangaratta Rovers

Wangaratta Rovers coach Sam Murray. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Sam Murray stepped into the big shoes of Daryn Cresswell at the end of last season after the Sydney Swans Hall of Famer resurrected the Rovers from one of their lowest ebbs.

Murray, who previously played under Cresswell at O & M rival Wodonga Raiders, began his first senior coaching job with a thrilling come from behind win against Wangaratta on Good Friday.

Another big scalp for Rovers was Yarrawonga, but they slipped up against two teams outside the top five, Myrtleford and North Albury.

Coaching hasn’t dimmed Murray’s on-field output with the former Collingwood player in contention to win the Morris Medal.

5. SAM GIBSON, Cavendish

Cavendish coach Sam Gibson gives instructions to his players in a South West District league match. Picture: Supplied

The transition from star player to first-year coach has been a smooth one for Sam Gibson, who has Cavendish in contention for back-to-back premierships in the South West District league.

Gibson made a successful recovery from leukaemia in 2018 to return to football with metropolitan team Montrose after previously at VFL level with Box Hill.

He moved to the southwest and became an instant hit as a player, winning the league best and fairest and helping Cavendish to a drought breaking flag last year.

He has taken over as coach from premiership coach Clinton Thomas and has Cavendish sitting on top with an 9-1 win-loss record.

6. LUKE KIEL-MICHAEL COLUMBRO, Sebastopol

Sebastopol co-coach Luke Kiel.

After playing off in the grand final and losing to Melton by only five points, Sebastopol had to find a replacement for Michael Searl.

The Burras went internally and came up with co-coaches, Kiel and Columbro.

Kiel, who played at VFL level with North Ballarat and Geelong before joining Sebastopol in 2019, is one of the team’s star players and Columbro makes the game-day moves from the sidelines.

It’s a case of so far, so good with Sebastopol sitting in second spot on the ladder behind Melton as it chases its first senior premiership since 1975.

7. TIM BROOMHEAD, North Albury

North Albury coach Tim Broomhead is surrounded by three Myrtleford opponents. Picture: Tim Petts (supplied)

Former Collingwood player Tim Broomhead took on one of the hardest coaching jobs in the Ovens and Murray after its 2022 coach Luke Norman quit early in the season and the club won only one match to claim the wooden spoon.

But the revival is underway and Broomhead, as playing coach, has been a big part in the turnaround that has the Hoppers only a game outside the top five with their last two victories being over Wangaratta Rovers (fourth) and Wodonga (fifth).

North Albury has hit the jackpot with Riverina recruits including Nathan Dennis and Jack Reynolds.

The Hoppers play the three top teams in their next three games and Broomhead will miss next round due to suspension before a late charge starts.

8. JASON WINDERLICH, Thorpdale

Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich. Picture: Paul Amy

Thorpdale has made a stunning on-field transformation from lowly team with only one win last season to finals contender 12 months later with the former Essendon speedster at the helm.

The Blues also didn’t win a game in 2019, but under Winderlich, who is being helped out by club stalwart Ray Pickering, they’re on a roll and won four games in a row before losing to undefeated Newborough by 14 points.

9. TOM KEOGH, Lockhart

Lockhart coach Tom Keogh gives his pre match instructions to players before taking Osborne in the Hume league. Picture: Nikki Reynolds

Lockhart has gone from almost going into recess in the lead-up to the 2022 Hume league season to potential finalist a year later.

Much of the credit must go to Tom Keogh, who was a premiership player with Wagga Tigers in 2019, but has played most of his career with Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes.

Lockhart has claimed two top-six scalps in the past month before falling to undefeated Osborne on Saturday.

But Lockhart’s draw opens up in the run home to finals and September action can’t be ruled out.

10. BRAD HIBBERSON, Chiltern

First year Chiltern coach Brad Hibberson. Picture: Supplied

After playing at Ovens and Murray level with Wodonga Raiders and Albury, Brad Hibberson returned to his original club Chiltern in 2021.

He featured in the best players in Chiltern’s first flag in the Tallangatta and District league last year and took over from premiership coach Luke Brookes, who had been in the job for five years.

Hibberson has already been re-signed for next year, but another finals campaign is the immediate priority with Chiltern still in the hunt for another premiership.