BY NATHAN DOLE
Bloods undergo huge transformation
THERE’S many new faces at South Bendigo as the Bloods strive to climb into the senior football’s top five in next year’s Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League.
Since the club appointed Troy Coates and Jack Fallon as co-coaches, South Bendigo has gone on a lucrative recruiting spree.
Among those to return to Harry Trott Oval in Kennington for the ’25 campaign are Kaiden Antonowicz, Tom Brereton and Callum Crisp from White Hills, Mac Cameron from Pines, and Joel Swatton from Maryborough.
The Bloods also signed Jesse Collins from Lockington Bamawm United, James Davies and Alex Davis from White Hills, Hayden Geddes from Donald, Caleb and Josh Nitschke from Kerang, and Jake Rusbridge from Bridgewater.
After a season in which he teamed with Antonowicz to coach White Hills to a long-awaited premiership, Jack Fallon crosses from the Demons to the Bloods.
A multiple premiership-winning coach and player at Kerang, Troy Coates also has claimed a grand final victory as playing coach of Strathfieldsaye Storm.
The Bloods have also strengthened their netball program as Lauren Bowles, a multiple premiership winning player and coach at White Hills has crossed from the Demons.
Another club which has bolstered playing stocks significantly is Castlemaine.
The Michael Hartley-coached Magpies flew to the sixth rung on a seven-nine record.
Castlemaine has retained most of the ’25 list and been bolstered by the arrival of Maryborough Coby Perry, Aidan Medlyn and Tom Myers.
As Maryborough goes into recess for next season, Perry was keen to stay in the Bendigo FNL and chose another mischief of Magpies, as did Medlyn and Myers.
Castlemaine has strengthened key position roles through the signing of 204cm ruckman Patrick Balta who had VFL stints with Richmond and Northern Bullants, and Jake Stein who played 20 AFL matches across stints with GWS Giants and Gold Coast Suns.
Stein was a VFL premiership winner with the Suns in 2023.
The Eyre brothers, Ryan and Josh will team up in the black and white as Josh joins Castlemaine after stints at VFL level with Collingwood and Essendon.
Hunter Staples returns to Camp Reserve after playing for Fitzroy in the VAFA’s Premier A competition and also with Western Jets in the Coates Talent League.
The Magpies also have gained forward Will Marks from South Bendigo, and half-back flanker Ronnie Fejo jr who kicked off his career at West Adelaide and has played at VFL level with Essendon and GWS.
Castlemaine has also signed Tyler Tobin from Nilma Darnum.
On the netball front, Adam Bolidston is the new coach of Castlemaine’s A-grade team.
A premiership-winning coach with Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in 2023, Boldiston brings plenty of experience to the Magpies.
It’s a new-look coaching set-up at Eaglehawk as Travis Matheson stays on as non-playing coach and will be joined by key position player Clayton Holmes as co-coach.
Signings for the Two Blues are forward Ryan Wellington from Marong, and Jack Donat who joins the Borough from stints at Cohuna Kangas and North Bendigo.
Eaglehawk also has Jannelle Hobbs returning to the netball coaching fray to lead the A-grade team.
Hobbs was a dual premiership-winning coach with Kangaroo Flat and also coached South Bendigo to finals campaigns.
Sandhurst’s quest for consecutive premierships will be led by the new coaching set-up of Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Lachlan Tardrew, playing.
A remarkable season for Tardrew included being a joint winner of the Michelsen medal as Bendigo FNL fairest and best, and the Nalder medal as best on ground in the grand final victory.
The Dragons have signed key forward Tom Campbell from Wedderburn Redbacks and welcome back Seb Collins from Maryborough.
Another recruit for the maroon and blue is Will Brohm from Mayne.
At Golden Square it will be the James brothers, Carson and Brodie who are likely to team up across midfield.
Carson has made the move to Fur Life Vet Oval in Wade Street from Strathfieldsaye Storm.
Brodie played on with the Bulldogs after the ’23 grand final victory.
Another player returning to Golden Square is Harry Law after stints with Southport in the VFL, and Labrador in the Queensland AFL.
The Brad Eaton-coached Bulldogs have also signed Jake Maher, a half-back/midfielder who previously played for Bendigo Pioneers, was on Williamstown’s list in the VFL, and also played with St Bernard’s in the VAFA.
Dermott Bell has also crossed from Strathfieldsaye.
Storm’s defence is significantly bolstered by the arrival of Kya Lanfranchi from Maryborough.
The Luke Freeman-coached Storm also has Sam Heavyside, Jed Brereton, Jye Formosa, Nick Clydesdale, Hunter Lawrence and Jordan Wilson back at the club.
A premiership winner with Mount Pleasant in ’23, Zebb Murrell has also signed with Storm.
It’s a change at netball as Jess Mangan steps up to coach A-grade as Steph Freemantle, A-grade coach since ’23 stays on to play.
Huge plus for Kangaroo Flat is the return of ruckman Nick Lang after a stint with Kerang which included a grand final victory in ’23.
A club champion, Lang has played more than 250 matches for the Kangaroos and his experience in the ruck or closer to goal will be a huge plus.
Sam Barnes also returns to the Roos from North Bendigo.
There’s years of experience on the coaching front as Tyrone Downie returns for a second stint as Roos’ senior coach.
Two other previous senior coaches of the club, Corey Greer and Jason Stevens will tackle the key roles as senior assistant and head of the football program respectively.
Runner-up in ’24, Gisborne has retained most of this season’s squad.
Tom Werner returns to Gardiner Reserve where ’22 premiership-winning coach Rob Waters is again in charge of a team that includes joint Michelsen medalists Brad Bernacki and Braidon Blake.