Kyabram recruit: Mitchell Gugliotti’s combative nature was on full display for Tongala in its practice match. He was part of Kyabram’s reserve grade grand final team last season.
Tongala unveiled its midfield “replacements’’ in a practice match with Kyabram district league club Girgarre at Tongala Recreation Reserve last week.
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Two-time Merrigum best-and-fairest Jack Sinclair and left-footed Kyabram recruit Mitch Gugliotti slotted neatly into the midfield, and in attack, Mitch Fitzgerald was a cut above his opposition.
The Blues, who are expected to be without reigning Murray league best-and-fairest player Nick Jamieson, star winger Jack Hammond, utility Anthony Dennis and Northern Territory star Cam Illet, having spent the entire COVID-19 period as a yardstick for the competition — without any significant reward.
Centre clearance: Jack Sinclair moved well for Tongala in a practice match against Tongala and appears to have settled in nicely to his new home.
Since losing the 2019 grand final, the Blues dominated the 2021 COVID-19 interrupted season and were knocked out of the 2022 finals series by Moama.
Fitzgerald is the brother of ruckman Kyle and will work with Mackenzie Ryan to fill the void left by Darren Ewing and Mackenzie Cowley, the former retiring and latter playing with Mooroopna in the Goulburn Valley League.
The handful of goals Fitzgerald kicked in the short sample size experienced in the practice match indicated he will work well with the likes of Mackenzie Ryan and Sam Cirpriani — who has spent the season in the Northern Territory with teammate Coby McCarthy.
Dominic Watt was busy in the midfield for the Blues, who will also be looking for answers to their key defensive posts — filled in recent seasons by Adam Lovison and Corey Nexhip.
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