Football
1 April, 2025
Season of growth ahead for Nhill
A change in competition and environment has attracted Nhill's incoming co-coach, Trevor Ryan, to help lead the football side.
"Four years in the North Central League and a relocation to Horsham, I thought Nhill was a good fit for me, and I wanted the challenge of taking on a new team," Ryan explained.
Ryan said he was impressed by the group's enthusiasm and passion during preseason.
He said the age of the group was that of all developing into seniors.
"The group from last year is now all at that age where they can impress and, hopefully, go that bit deeper," he added.
Opposition teams won't see a style from the Tigers that is too different from last year, with the coach admitting the 2024 method worked but just needed to be tweaked.
"We've gone along the same lines but will add bits and pieces," he said, adding that players were being taught to play a bit faster and go harder with their tackles.
Back at the helm again this season, but this time alongside Ryan, is last season's coach Jake McQueen, who said he was delighted to be joined by the experienced leader.
"I'm excited by the fact he has a lot of experience and knowledge and I'm keen to bounce off of that and learn both as a coach and as a player," McQueen said.
The Tigers have retained the large majority of their list from last season and bolstered it with some more versatility.
They've added Clay Shadforthm, from Waratahs Football Club in Darwin, alongside Darcy Reid from Birchip-Watchem and Kobe Hodges from Saint Mary's in the Northern Territory Football League.
Shadforthm is a forward but can play through the middle.
"Darcy Reid has come over from Birchip," Ryan said.
"He's only young but he brings good leadership to the group and he's an athlete in his own right.
"He should be a good player for us.
"And Kobe Hodges is one of my mates from Darwin who is relocating to Melbourne," McQueen added.
"He's also versatile but a good inside-mid, and he will be another good addition to us."
Ryan said they hadn't gone too hard on recruiting because it was important to give their existing players a chance to develop.
"We're excited with the list we've got and we're hoping to build on our goals per match," Ryan said.