Sport
Goulburn Valley League’s five biggest departures for 2024, ranked
Clubs across the Goulburn Valley League have made moves and some of the most eye-raising off-season signings have come from outside the usual contenders.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
On the field and the court, clubs have dealt in marquee names and puzzle pieces alike, with some certainly busier than others.
Not every big move has bolstered the 12 clubs, though, with some top talents seeking pastures anew.
The News ranks its five highest-profile GVL outgoings ahead of season 2024.
5: The Dee-parture lounge
Shepparton United made a series of optimistic signings ahead of the 2023 season.
Its fans had the right to look up with a sense of renewed hope after acquiring the likes of Jayden Magro and Marcus Wattie.
While those two absolutely played to the best of their ability — Magro leading the club's goal-kicking and Wattie taking out the senior best-and-fairest — it's back to the drawing board in terms of star power.
Not only have the stars mentioned above taken off, but reliable defender Mitch Roche took up an offer to head across the Nullarbor and pull on the Swan Districts jumper in the WAFL.
The Demons have been open in off-season recruiting with a series of mainly metropolitan incomings that show genuine promise.
However, United's ability to balance the books remains unproven until we see an uptick on the field to cover these sizeable losses.
4: Swans standout heads north
Shepparton Swans’ 2023 could have been better on both fronts, with the senior football and netball outfits falling well short of September action.
That said, the Swans’ netballers could at least hang their hats on the stellar outings that midcourter Chelsea McDonald produced, with the Finley native pulling in the club's A-grade best-and-fairest award.
However, the pull of hometown netball has proven too strong with McDonald opting to take her talents back to the Murray league, where she had initially thrived as a junior and former multiple club best-and-fairest.
Replacing her on the courts of Princess Park is some task, though the addition of Natasha Atkinson-Brown from a successful Rumbalara team provides some upside.
The Swans were not routinely blown off the asphalt — six of their 12 losses last season were by six goals or less — but it looks all the more a mountain to climb without accomplished veteran McDonald in the middle.
3: Key Cat becomes a Tiger
GVL onlookers are assured of a new top spearhead with 2023 leading goal-kicker and Mooroopna star Jackson Trengove departing the club.
The 33-year-old former Port Adelaide and Western Bulldogs star, who spent most of his 11-season AFL career as a key defender, set scoreboards across the league alight with 59 majors last season.
After Mooroopna failed to progress beyond the first week of finals, Trengove opted to take his skills to the border, signing for Cobram in the Murray competition.
The move marks his second run within the Murray ranks after spending 2022 over the river at Barooga as playing coach.
With initial uncertainty over the future of fellow key forward Chris Nield at the Cattery, questions would arise regarding Mooroopna’s chances of replacing Trengove’s offensive output.
Other Cats forwards find themselves with work to do, but a raft of arrivals should bolster Mooroopna throughout its best 22.
One brother passes the baton to the other in Mooroopna’s ruck division, though, with Liam Betson set to swap Cats colours for actual Cats country in Geelong Football League.
2: Bomber big names break up
Many went into the 2023 senior grand final wondering ‘‘if not now, then when?’’ for Kyabram's premiership tilt.
A gritty first half soon gave way to the seemingly inevitable Murray Bombers blitz, though, and Paul Newman's men went without.
Mercurial forward Kyle Mueller made tracks soon afterwards, moving from one grand final bridesmaid to another in joining Congupna, seeking to go one better in the 2024 Murray Football League.
Having booted 51 majors last season — though, notably, held goalless in the decider — Mueller's departure leaves the Bombers' forward line short of a wealth of dynamism.
However, several incomings have added competition in the middle and defensive thirds of Kyabram's line-up.
A remarkable pick up for Congupna — one of many as part of an ambitious overhaul — but the loss on Kyabram's end is likely to feel far stronger.
Mueller was far from the only significant loss to the 2023 runner-up.
Utility Thomas Holman also headed for the Murray competition, electing to sign on with Moama.
Veteran Kayne Pettifer — who missed the grand final through suspension — was next in line to join the Murray migration, set to don the Nathalia jumper in 2024.
With younger prospects like Reuben Rode headed towards Melbourne as well, it will take an enormous effort for the side led by new co-coaches Kaine Herbert and Corey Carver to stand again on the final day.
1: MVP becomes O&M
Jack O’Sullivan has been a name synonymous with outstanding success in the GVL.
At times, the Seymour on-baller acted as a wrecking ball in a Lions side that proved one point shy of unstoppable heading into the final round with minor premiership aspirations.
An upset loss to the Bears preceded a stunning straight-sets finals exit despite O’Sullivan’s continued prominence through the midfield.
Ultimately, his reward in the form of Morrison Medal recognition only further serves to compound the enormity of his exit in favour of the Wodonga Bulldogs.
In losing a dynamo like O’Sullivan, Seymour lets go of a player who ranked second in the league for centre clearances, second for disposals, third for inside-50s, second in pressure acts and equal-fifth in goal assists among a bevy of other contributions.
Worse still, his new destination in the Ovens & Murray League means a strong chance he will come back to haunt GVL midfielders one more time in the May 25 interleague clash at Deakin Reserve.
Sports Journalist