While the first round of Goulburn Valley League matches will begin in less than a fortnight, the VFL season started on Saturday.
In the days leading up to round one, Shepparton star Ned Byrne was announced as Collingwood VFL’s most recent signing.
Byrne’s stocks soared last season as he debuted for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League and for GWS’ reserve side in the VFL.
This season Byrne is joining the likes of Seymour’s Riley Mason, Mansfield’s Harry and Max Mahoney and Goulburn Valley export Boston Dowling in black and white at Victoria Park.
Although Byrne didn’t make his debut for the Magpies during their round one match against Sydney, Mason impressed in his first VFL match.
Seymour’s star key forward booted four goals from 10 touches as he confirmed he belongs at the level.
Magpies coach Andy Otten said it was great to see Mason make an instant impact.
“Riley is a great athlete and he is really competitive as well, which I love,” Otten said.
“He has been in Seymour kicking bags up there, so I knew he had the talent to kick goals.
“To be able to slide into our program and put himself through a really tough pre-season to get his fitness level up and I think we saw a young athletic player be able to take that next step up at VFL level and put himself on show.
“It’s fantastic to see he had great reward and it was really pleasing as coach watching him go about it.”
Mansfield’s Max Mahoney also made his VFL debut, kicking one goal from 16 touches, while his brother Harry kicked two goals from his 17 disposals.
Collingwood won the match against Sydney by 25 points with all three Goulburn Valley exports contributing to the win.
Former Mooroopna gun Angus Hanrahan played his first game for the Swans and adapted to the level quickly, recording 18 disposals.
In other signing news, versatile Echuca tall forward Hugh Byrne has signed for North Melbourne’s VFL side.
Byrne kicked 31 goals from 20 games for the Murray Bombers last season and featured in the Goulburn Valley League interleague side.
Shepparton Swans star Max Clohesy has signed on at Richmond VFL for 2025.
Clohesy played seven games for the Tigers in the VFL in 2023, before spending one full season in the Goulburn Valley League earning best under-21 player at Princess Park.
