O’Rourke to lead Dogs
A FAMILIAR face will be in charge at Tyntynder next season, with the club this week announcing Jack O’Rourke as their coach.
O’Rourke will take over from Josh Stone, who has led the Bulldogs for the past two seasons, including an elimination final appearance last year.
Joining O’Rourke will be Marcus Wattie, with the dynamic midfielder returning to the club from Shepparton United as a playing assistant coach.
O’Rourke is no stranger to senior coaching, having coached Tooleybuc-Manangatang in 2012 and 2013, before leading Ultima to three straight grand finals between 2016 and 2018.
Having been an assistant coach under Stone for the past two seasons at Tyntynder, O’Rourke will be hoping to lead the club back into the top five after the Bulldogs finished this season eighth with a 4-12 win-loss record.
“I am very excited to be coaching again at senior level and very grateful to the Tyntynder Football Netball Club for the opportunity,” O’Rourke told the club’s social media.
“We have a lot of work to do and I look forward to the challenge.”
Goldfinch top Saint
ETHAN Goldfinch has taken out Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s senior best and fairest in his first full season at the club.
Goldfinch was a revelation in the midfield, with the big bodied midfielder consistently among the better players for a team that finished 10th with two wins for the season.
Blake Grant finished runner-up in a hotly contested vote count, with Jaicob Kenny winning the club’s best defender award and Josh Williams claiming the leading goalkicker.
Summer Blachford rounded out a strong season in goals, with the consistent shooter winning the Saints’ A grade best and fairest ahead of fellow young gun Jayda Plant.
Christensen claims Raiders B&F
Mitchell Christensen took home Koondrook-Barham’s senior best and fairest in his first year for the club, with Colin McVeigh finishing as runner-up.
Christensen, who has re-signed for next year, has been one of the shining lights in an otherwise dark season, with the utility consistently among the Raiders’ better players.
Danny Main claimed the reserves best and fairest, ahead of Andrew Edwards, while Lachlan Laursen capped off a season that saw him play 11 senior games by winning the colts best and fairest ahead of Ryan Bassett.
The Raiders’ A Grade netball best and fairest went the way of Remy Doyle in the A Grade, with Emily Fasham runner-up, while Katie Thomas won the A Reserve award ahead of joint runners-up Teaghan Verhallen and Ella Whelan.
In the B Grade, Rebecca Hollingworth was declared the winner in front of Sarah Copland, while Jordyn Donovan won the B Reserve from Paige Mooring.
Roos bounce into 2024
ULTIMA will go into its second semi-final against Moulamein with no distractions, announcing Kyle Symons will continue as senior coach next season.
Symons will continue as coach for a third season, with Jamie Nicholas and Mitch Seton-Stewart also to continue as assistant coaches.
The Roos will be a club based on stability next season, with Tayla Foster also re-signing to continue as A Grade netball coach after leading Ultima into the finals.
