Kyabram District League side Tallygaroopna posted on its Facebook page two weeks ago that coach Daniel Clarke would leave the club for next season.
The Redlegs have acted quickly since, with the club announcing the signing of 2005 premiership hero Jason Traianidis as the senior football coach for the 2025 season.
Traianidis has a long and impressive football resume, having played 62 games for St Kilda in the AFL before becoming a premiership player-coach at Tallygaroopna in the mid-2000s.
Most recently, Traianidis spent roughly seven years at Rumbalara, serving as a head coach, an assistant coach and a mentor.
After spending some time away from the sport, Traianidis told The News he was excited to throw himself back into the football world again.
“I had my first coaching year (at Tally), so I thought it would be a good chance to get back out there,” he said.
“I’m an old-school coach; it’s doing the basic things well first and then we can try to sort out the game plan.
“Being around for a long time, I know that is the only way to do it.
“People look at the AFL and how they play and try to implement that, but you have to realise those boys train six hours a day, five days a week.
“Country boys are a bit different, as you only get them for three hours of training a week.”
Traianidis is also a premiership hero at Shepparton East, having kicked eight goals in the Eagles’ 2010 grand final victory in the Picola District League.
Shepparton East, now in the Kyabram District League, is playing in this weekend’s grand final against Murchison-Toolamba.
Traianidis said he aspired for the Redlegs to challenge both grand finalists next season.
“My goal is to make and win grand finals; that’s why I coach,” he said.
“That’s how I used to play.
“I coach to win.
“I want to push the good sides like Murch, Shepp East and (Lancaster) and hold the cup up at the end of the year.”
In 2024, Tallyagroopna finished in the top six but lost to Shepparton East by 65 points in the first elimination final.
The Redlegs’ new coach said that he and assistant coach Tyson Sidebottom would search for rival talent during the off-season to help boost Tally back into premiership contention.
“I follow most of the local footy and I have followed Tally the last couple of years and Danny (Clarke) has done a really good job to get them to where they were,” he said.
“From all reports, there are some good young kids out there that may need a bit more experience.
“I have Tys Sidebottom on board and he knows a few of the younger players more than I do, so we will definitely be targeting a few players to fill some positions that we think we need to fill to make us competitive against those top two or three sides.”
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