Steve Hammond, who coached the Tongala reserves to the flag in 2022, is the Blues’ new senior mentor.
Ironically Hammond was curiously sacked by Tongala after that flag win which he now finds a little amusing, but a challenge he wants to pursue with new found enthusiasm.
‘‘I stewed over it (sacking) a bit last season, but got over it and watched games this season and thought there was a lot of young players who could be developed,’’ Hammond said.
“So when the coaching job came up I decided to apply. Now I’m really keen again that I’ve got it.’’
Hammond believes selective rather than mass recruiting was needed to get the club back as a finals contender.
‘‘I think there are plenty of good and also promising players already at the club, so we don’t need wholesale recruiting,’’ he said.
Hammond said he wanted to retain this year’s coach Billy Barnes whom he has seen play in his prime and has a big opinion of his ability as a player.
‘‘I’d love him to stay on,’’ he said.
Hammond played his football with Hampden league club Cobden — nearly 300 games — and is a three times best-and-fairest club winner and also won the Hampden league Maskell Medal for the best-and-fairest player in 1996.
He also had a three-year coaching stint with Cobden, leading it into the 2007 grand final in his first year as coach.
Hammond was also assistant coach in a Victoria Country under-18 team to Hawthorn legend Peter Knights and also assisted Knights in a three-year stint with the Victoria Country open team.
Meanwhile, another Murray Football League power Moama has elected its coach for the 2025 campaign.
Liam Barrett will step up from a playing role to become the Magpies’ mentor following an outstanding season from a club perspective as all 12 of the club’s teams made finals in 2024.
Barrett, who won two Goulburn Valley League premierships with Kyabram and one Bendigo Football League flag with Golden Square, joined Moama alongside ex-Bombers jet Tom Holman at the end of 2023.
He earned the Magpies’ most disciplined award at the club presentation and will look to add more silverware to the cabinet in 2025.
Other Murray league clubs Numurkah and Cobram have also named new leaders for next season as previously reported by The News.
Numurkah’s three-man coaching panel of Sean Harrap, Jamason Daniels and Patrick Riordan has made way for Chris and Jordan O’Dwyer with current Numurkah cricket captain Tim Arnel joining them as assistant coach.
Cobram has appointed triple Waaia premiership player Mark Meyland to take the reins from Tim Garlick and Tyron Baden.
Baden will remain with the Tigers as a player, but Garlick has got the top job with Picola District Football League club Strathmerton.
Lastly, Deniliquin has turned to Gary Parsons to steer the ship in 2025.
The long time Rams servant will be joined on the panel by John Anstee who elevates his leadership status following several years as club captain.
