Goulburn Valley League has turned to two experienced mentors to guide its senior football and open netball teams into battle against old enemy Ovens and Murray in its 2023 interleague clash.
Former Shepparton premiership coach Mark Lambourn will take the reins of the football side as the GVL boys look to bounce back from a lacklustre showing in last year’s edition of the Ash-Wilson Trophy.
This announcement comes after months of speculation as to who would take the job from Kyabram legend Paul Newman, who stepped aside from interleague duties after last year’s 55-point loss at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve.
It was initially reported by The Weekly Times that former Fremantle coach and recently-retired Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum would partner current Mooroopna mentor John Lamont in the role.
But the league ultimately decided to go in a different direction and settled on the experience of Lambourn to lead the competition’s top talents into battle.
Lambourn sports a sparkling coaching resume in district football, which includes a GVL premiership with Shepparton in 2000, a stint as Murray Football League interleague coach and numerous representative roles in Victoria Country’s junior set-up.
He said he was incredibly excited to take on this challenge alongside trusty assistants Simon Eishold and Dion Sheehan.
“Very honoured and super excited to be leading the GVL in this great interleague challenge,” Lambourn said.
“(I am) also privileged to have Simon Eishold and Dion Sheehan as part of the team as we take on our arch-rival O&M.
“It will be great to see what could be argued as the two most powerful country football leagues go head-to-head.
“We look forward to showcasing some of the marquee players blended with some young aspiring and very talented players as we look to field the strongest team we can.”
On the netball side, current Mooroopna tactician Di Hanslow will lead the open unit for a second year running, after the girls were successful in their efforts in last year’s interleague bout against O&M.
Hanslow also masterminded the GVL to glory in the state championships on back-to-back occasions (2019 and 2022), further adding to her glittering resume as one of the region’s most storied netball coaches.
“I’m looking forward to leading our athletes in the open team when they defend their interleague title in May against the O&M,’’ Hanslow said.
“I’m also looking forward to working with the squad as we prepare to defend our back-to-back Association Championship title. The talent across the league is phenomenal and I’m looking forward to ensuring we have the best of the best representing the GVL.”
Along with the two senior clashes, the stars of tomorrow will also get a chance to shine in an under-18 football and a 15-and-under netball match.
Shepparton sporting ace Ramadan Yze, who currently leads Shepparton United’s thirds squad, will take the junior football reins, while star Mooroopna A-grade midcourter Bree Hanslow will partner her mother Di in the netball coaching set-up as mentor of the 15-and-under unit.
The 2023 interleague battle between Goulburn Valley League and Ovens and Murray will take place on Saturday, May 20, at Albury Sports Ground.