The moves to date mainly concern the region’s northern reaches, with Murray Football League clubs which did not play Saturday’s grand final already casting their eyes over making the big dance in 2025.
Numurkah has conducted perhaps the most dramatic overhaul to date, with its entire three-man panel stepping down and a new trio taking the helm.
Sean Harrap, ex-Western Bulldog Jamason Daniels and Patrick Riordan are all making way as Chris and Jordan O’Dwyer are the new appointments at the top of the charts for next season.
Joining them as an assistant coach will be current Numurkah cricket captain Tim Arnel.
Jordan O’Dwyer was sure to thank the outgoing leaders for their contributions to a Blues side that finished sixth this season.
“I personally wouldn’t have been able to commit to it myself living in Yarrawonga and being in Melbourne for work,” O’Dwyer said.
“With all that, we thought it would be beneficial to have a couple of us doing it.
“Jamason moved to Melbourne and Sean had been doing it for five years and felt like he wanted to take a step back.
“I had a lot of respect for Sean and Jamo for how long they’ve done it.”
Looking ahead, Jordan was keen to get to work alongside Chris, a man admired in the eyes of both himself and Arnel.
“Chris was my first senior coach as well as Tim’s first 14 or 15 years ago, so we should work well together,” O’Dwyer said.
“We’ve known him a long time and have a great deal of respect for him.
“We thought we might bring our own sort of flavour, but we just thought we’d spread the load a bit.
“One of our main focuses now is strengthening the whole senior group as the twos have struggled the last couple of years; a big forward who might kick 60 to 70 goals would be nice, but we need to just top up our depth.
“Almost the busiest period is when the season ends. It’s been enjoyable so far, but it is a big job.”
The news is far from done there around the coaching realm, with Cobram making a significant change further north.
Co-coaches Tim Garlick and Tyron Baden will not stick around at the top for next year, with Mark Meyland arriving out of the three-time premiership setup at Waaia in the Picola District Football League.
While Baden will remain at Tigerland as a player, Garlick moves to pastures anew entirely, confirmed as the new boss at nearby Strathmerton.
In further Murray moves, Jono Henderson will step down from the top job at Rumbalara after a season of improvement which saw the Shepparton-based side snatch its first win in almost two years, finishing with three for the season.
Tongala rounds out the whirlwind of signing activity for the time being, bringing an esteemed figure in Stephen Hammond to take the reins in 2025.
