Congupna has made its 2023 Murray Football League premiership aspirations clear, with the return of Shepparton Swans star BJ Squire to Memorial Park headlining a raft of big name recruits.
Squire has garnered a reputation as one of the region’s premier on-ballers, winning an astonishing six consecutive senior best-and-fairests across stints at Swans (2015, 2016, 2017) and Congupna (2018 and 2019).
In 2022 he captained a young Swans side to an eighth-placed finish on the Goulburn Valley League ladder, averaging a prolific 29.6 disposals a game to finish second in the club’s best-and-fairest award.
After playing his junior football at Congupna, Squire returns for a second senior stint at the club after he made the same move from the Swans to The Road prior to the 2018 season.
A major coup for the club, Road coach Kevin O’Donoghue said he was delighted to welcome Squire back to Memorial Park.
“Just like any other year we just asked the question and, with his strong connection to the club, we were fortunate BJ wanted to come back,” O’Donoghue said.
“We are lucky to be in the position where we are entering our premiership window as such and ready to contend strongly in the finals and he saw an opportunity to hopefully be part of some success.
“He’s also got some really close mates at the club he wanted to come back and play with, so to have a bloke of his quality back at Congupna we are over the moon.”
Squire joins an up-and-coming Congupna side fresh off a breakout 2022 campaign, where it won 11 of its final 13 home and away season matches to clinch a finals appearance.
Ultimately losing to Moama by four points in an enthralling elimination final, the presence of Squire will add much-needed class and experience to the Road’s on-ball unit as it looks to take the next step in 2023.
“Any coach would be licking their lips to have a guy of that quality in their side,” O’Donoghue said.
“He will without doubt slot straight into our midfield and will add to the exciting group we are building there.
“Having depth through the middle is so important and having BJ in that mix will make us a much better side next year.”
Squire isn’t the only accomplished local footballer set to don a Congupna jumper next season, with four more recruits set to bolster its premiership aspirations further.
Shepparton United product Elliot Cavallaro comes to the club after a dominant stint with Western Football League club Altona, winning its goal-kicking award in a premiership season in 2022.
McNamara medallist and GVL premiership player Sam Poole further adds to The Road’s midfield unit and will be another experienced star to couple with Squire on the ball.
While Matt DiBella and Dion Gleeson make their return to Memorial Park, bringing further senior football experience to this group of up-and-coming stars.
O’Donoghue said bringing such high quality players to the club speaks to how strong a position it is in.
“Bringing in the likes of Sam Poole, Matt DiBella, Dion Gleeson and Elliot Cavallaro, it gives us a lot more experience which is crucial for our young list,” he said.
“Being able to draw these guys to our club it is very exciting and shows that there are exciting times ahead at Congupna.”