Steve Hammond, who coached the Tongala reserves to a Murray Football League 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. So when the coaching job came up I decided to apply. Now I’m really keen again that I’ve got it,’’ Hammond said.
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.’’
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.’’
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.
· Other Murray league clubs Moama, Numurkah and Cobam have also named new leaders for next season.
Kyabram premiership player Liam Barrett will coach Moama after joining it this season. He replaces another ex-Kyabram player in Sam Sheldon.
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.
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