The local football off-season is under way with clubs already making moves in anticipation of the 2023 season.
Goulburn Valley League premier Echuca has appointed a third member of the senior coaching panel, with former AFL player and Murray Bombers premiership-winner Sam Reid stepping up.
Reid will assist current coaches Simon Maddox and Andrew Walker in next season’s campaign. He played eight games in 2022 for the Murray Bombers after joining the club prior to the start of the season.
It means that Echuca will now have 310 games of AFL experience to lean on when it begins its flag defence.
Over at Echuca United, the Eagles’ rebuild has continued with the re-introduction of 100-gamer Luke Sanderson to the nest.
Sanderson departed United following the 2019 season, playing 26 games across the 2021 and 2022 seasons before returning.
This comes amid the re-signing of the majority of the senior list, with the Eagles aiming to pull themselves up the ladder in 2023.
• Kyabram Football Club will have almost all of this season’s senior list intact for next year after goal-kicking guru Kyle Mueller committed last week.
Mueller missed most of this season with broken bones in his foot and ankle, but is confident he can get through the cricket season and be ready to resume his stellar career with the Bombers next year.
Bombers coach Paul Newman said the club was stoked Mueller had recommitted and was keen to continue playing with the club in its rebuilding phase.
Newman said the only regular Kyabram senior player who was on the move was key defender Jack Sheldon, who had told the club he would join his brother Tom and cousin Sam — all former Kyabram players — at Moama next year.
Sam coaches Moama, where other former Kyabram premiership players in Josh Vick and Josh Pell also play.
— Gus Underwood