Wangaratta Rovers: Brodie Filo to resume in reserves

A Wangaratta Rovers star hasn’t played for a month, but will be staying at the club for rest of the season.

Wangaratta Rovers coach Daryn Cresswell has ended speculation star recruit Brodie Filo will be leaving the club and playing for another team in the state after a no-show for a match last month.

Filo has not played the last two matches for the Rovers after not fronting for the clash against Corowa-Rutherglen three weeks ago.

As a result of his no-show, Filo was immediately ruled out of the O and M team that beat Goulburn Valley the following weekend and has been a noticeable absentee from matches against North Albury and Wangaratta in the last fortnight.

There had been speculation he could return to his original club, Eaglehawk, in the Bendigo league or a move to Lake Boga in the Central Murray league.

Wangaratta Rovers coach Daryn Cresswell, Picture Yuri Kouzmin

But Cresswell told The Weekly Times that Filo had trained with Wangaratta Rovers last Thursday night and would resume through the reserves this week against Albury.

“He’s committed to us this season,” Cresswell said.

Meanwhile, Cresswell said the chances of him coaching Rovers next season was “more unlikely than likely at this stage”.

Cresswell is juggling coaching commitments with a large landscaping business plus wanting to watch two sons who are playing football in Melbourne and Adelaide this year.

“It’s a bit of a 50-50 call,” he said.

“I’m time poor to be honest with the business and so forth.

“We will give it our best shot this year.”

Chris Naish. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Former Richmond player Chris Naish has stepped in when Cresswell has missed matches this season and is expected to be the frontrunner to take over as coach in 2023 if there is a change.

Cresswell has previously coached Wodonga Raiders in the O and M and took the club to a preliminary final in his final season with them in 2018.

DARYN CRESSWELL - 244 Games (1992-2003). Club Champion 1994. All-Australian 1997. Swans Team of the Century.

Look back at some of the highlights of one of our recent Hall of Fame Inductees, Daryn Cresswell. #Bloods

— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) June 9, 2022

The following season he was appointed coach of Wangaratta Rovers.

Cresswell was recently inducted into the Sydney Swans’ Hall of Fame.