“Feeling confident”: Tatura ready to make it a four-peat under new coach

With a handful of titles in his back pocket, outgoing coach Tristan Zito will now be in charge of Goulburn Valley Suns' under-23 side for 2025, but will still lace up the boots as an Ibis.

The challenge for new Tatura coach Cody Sellwood and his troops will be maintaining the rage that has had his side become a juggernaut.

Unsurprisingly, Tatura had seven representatives in the Team of the Year last season, while star Fraser Gosstray led the competition for goals (23) and came runner-up in the league best-and-fairest.

The competition is expected to be tighter this season, meaning Sellwood will have to become like KFC's Colonel as he works on his mix of herbs and spices for the aptly named BASL.

Sellwood said the coachability of Tatura's players had helped him adjust to his new role.

“It has its own challenges, especially being a player-coach, but I am up for the challenge,” Sellwood said.

“Pre-season has been good, the boys have put in a ton of work and have done everything I have asked for.

“Feeling good, feeling confident.”

Taking a fresh outlook on the season ahead, Tatura has put its previous successes behind it.

In terms of a game plan, Sellwood said he wasn’t straying too far from the system he played under.

“My style has been very similar to what the coaches have implemented in the past, so we just keep building up on it,” he said.

“We obviously have some younger boys coming through this year, so just trying to drill that (game plan) into them as well.

“A few experienced boys have left or are having the season off, so it is just about getting the group on the same page again.”

There has been a slight changing of the guard at Tatura, with Tom Corso and Tim Lardner (injury) departing.

The Ibises won’t be fielding an under-18 team in 2025, meaning young guns Lucca Pena and Xavier Black will be hoping to make an impact at senior level.

Tatura's coach said he was excited to watch Black tear apart defences this season.

“(Black) is just an animal,” he said.

“He has matured at a very young age, so he is quite a big boy, but not just that, he is very mature in the head as well.

“He is a direct player, he is not someone who is coming into the pockets as a number nine, he is getting in behind as he is rapid and strong and he just scores goals.

“He is just a bull.”

The senior women’s side has started the 2025 season well, defeating Shepparton South 6-0 in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Tatura will take on Shepparton United in the semi-final on May 18.

The side will be led again by co-coaches Damien Rosella and Serge Minicozzi.

After making finals in the previous two seasons, Tatura will be hoping to sink its boots deeper this year.

The Ibises’ league campaign begins with a clash at Howley Oval against Border Raiders.