TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG
PROFILE
TOOLEYBUC-Manangatang will be hoping a return to their past is the way forward this season, with former coach Brad Morris back at the helm of his home club.
With just four wins over the past three seasons, the Saints are this year hoping for a change of fortunes under Morris, who led the club to consecutive finals appearances in 2015 and 2016. It won’t just be a new coach that gives Tooleybuc-Manangatang a different look, however, with the club securing the services of several impactful recruits for the new season.
Both Connor Nutting and Elliott Chalmers come to the club with impressive resumes, with Nutting drafted to the Gold Coast Suns in 2017, while Chalmers spent several seasons plying his trade in the SANFL with Glenelg and North Adelaide. Both Nutting and Chalmers are expected to add depth and class to the Saints’ midfield and forward rotations, along with Heidelberg pair Kai Kearns and Jesse Kane, who will also join the Saints.
While pleased with the calibre of players recruited for season 2024, it was his club’s ability to retain the bulk of last year’s recruits that has Morris enthusiastic ahead of their round 1 encounter with the Mallee Eagles.
“Being able to retain six of the eight recruits we secured last year has been a big plus for us,” Morris said.
“With not turning those guys over has enabled us to be able to build on last season, and with a few of those boys having a few connections has also helped us identify a few of this year’s recruits.
“With our recruiting, it was more about getting the right people and the right players as opposed to just getting anyone, which you can fall into the trap of sometimes, especially with a lack of players around our area.
Also pulling on the red, white and black this season will be former players Jackson Morris, Billy Bentley and Zach Prentice, with Morris returning to the club having spent the past few seasons plagued by injury at Tyntynder.
On the other side of the equation, the Saints have lost reigning best and fairest Ethan Goldfinch, while veterans Tom Carland, Lachlan Gleeson and Jack Spinks have also moved on.
While the loss of Goldfinch will hurt, the retention of key position players Josh Williams, Jaicob Kenny, Jonathan Marsden, Connor McDonald and John Wardle leaves the Saints well stocked at either end of the ground, with Morris excited by the prospects of what looms as being one of the most potent forward lines in the Central Murray.
“I’m hoping our forward line will be a bit of a strength of ours,” Morris said.
“We’ve got plenty of talent down there, with guys like Josh Williams, Kai Kearns, Connor Nutting and Jono Marsden, they’ve all got size and athleticism, so we’re hoping that we might be able to stretch some opposition backlines for height and speed.
“We’ve been working pretty hard on moving the ball by foot and we’ve done a lot of work on our fitness as well, but we’ve been really focusing heavily on moving the ball clean and quick by foot so that we can use it efficiently going forward and give those guys every chance of hitting the scoreboard.”
FROM THE COACH
“As a club, we’ve spoken about where we’re at and we really need to improve, we’ve been off the boil for a few years now and the times right to try and build some foundations back up and get things heading in the right direction. Success helps that, but you have to have the right people around the club and I think from that perspective we are heading in the right direction.”
INS & OUTS
INS
Kai Kearns (Heidelberg)
Jesse Kane (Heidelberg)
Connor Nutting (North Adelaide)
Elliott Chalmers (PINT)
Jackson Morris (Tyntynder)
Zach Prentice (Moulamein)
Billy Bentley (Macorna)
OUTS
Ethan Goldfinch (East Coast Swans)
Tom Carland (Coburg Districts)
Lachlan Gleeson (Retired)
Jack Mazzarella (Injured)
Peter Rothacker
Tim Auckland
Jack Spinks
Shane Foley
Shayne Goldfinch (East Coast Swans)
Tom Spicer (Swan Hill)
Jett Funnell (Balranald)
Liam Baldwin
Harper McNicol
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024
After several tough campaigns as the Central Murray’s whipping boys, 2024 looms as a make-or-break season for Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
While a push for the finals would seem unrealistic at this point, they need to at least show a level of competitiveness that has at times been missing, especially against the stronger sides.
Should have enough talent in all areas of the ground, but the big question surrounds their depth, especially if they are hit with a run of injuries at any stage.
With a number of bigger bodies around the contest, expect the Saints to play a physical brand of football, with a high emphasis on maintaining the ball when in possession.
KEY PLAYER
Josh Williams – The former North Melbourne forward had a remarkable first season for Tooleybuc-Manangatang, finishing with 54 goals from 15 matches and narrowly missing out on winning the Central Murray’s leading goalkicker award, despite his team winning just two matches.
This should be all the proof needed as to how important Williams is to his team’s fortunes this season, especially if the Saints recruits can provide him with more opportunities to hit the scoreboard.
Is unstoppable on the lead and clean below his knees, making Williams a nightmare match-up for any opposition defender.
BIG IMPROVER
Kallum Hazlett – A raw but talented footballer, Hazlett showed why he’s to be considered a player of the future in his second season of senior football last year. A big pre-season has Hazlett primed to take his game to another level in 2024 and is expected to lock away a permanent spot in the seniors as a pressure forward. His speed, class and ability to find the goals will help add another dimension to an increasingly potent forward line.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will their new recruits turn around Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s fortunes?
There’s no doubt the Saints have recruited well this off-season, adding several high-class players such as Elliott Chalmers, Connor Nutting and Kai Kearns to their playing list.
But will they be enough to pull them off the lower rungs of the ladder and into finals contention?
While their recruits look certain to make a difference, the real improvement needs to come from their local players this season.
If John Wardle, Jack Templeton, Ben Arentz and Gareth Grant can recapture their best form, combined with further improvement from Ryan Domaille and the Hazlett brothers, then there’s no reason why Tooleybuc-Manangatang can’t cause a few upsets throughout 2024.
TOOLEYBUC-MANANGATANG PREDICTED BEST 22 2022
B. Mitchell Ferrie – Jackson Morris – David Kennedy
HB. John Wardle – Jaicob Kenny – Harrison Maher
C. Connor Nutting – Elliott Chalmers – Gareth Grant
HF. Jack Templeton – Jonathan Marsden – Jesse Kane
F. Ryan Domaille – Josh Williams – Kallum Hazlett
R. Connor McDonald – Kai Kearns – Blake Grant
INT. Billy Bentley – Zach Prentice – Connor Hazlett – Ben Arentz
