In dispute: Brock McLean was the general of the Tongala defence in the absence of mainstays Corey Nexhip and Adam Lovison. McLean worked with Merrigum recruit Tom Cooper to fill the two major defensive posts.
Half of Tongala’s 2022 Murray league finals team was missing from the team that tackled Echuca United in the opening round of the season on Saturday.
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It had little impact on the result as fleet-footed Mitchell Gugliotti wore the number seven guernsey with almost the same vigour and enthusiasm as its former owner — former best-and-fairest Jack Hammond.
Hammond, NT stars Cameron Illett, Darren Ewing, Jack Monigatti and Ryan Nyhuis, Corey Nexhip, Mackenzie Cowley, Adam Lovison, Nick Jamieson, Anthony Dennis and Braydon Nevett were all missing from the line-up.
Best-on-ground: Mitchell Gugliotti could not have been more impressive in his Murray league debut and is almost a certainty to poll three votes in the O’Dwyer medal with his tireless roving display for Tongala on Saturday.
Gugliotti, however, gave Blues supporters plenty of hope and was the pick of the four Kyabram recruits who all had a major impact in their first appearance with neighbouring Murray league club Tongala.
Gugliotti’s ferocious attack on the ball and relentless running earned him, in many eyes, best-on-ground honours in Tongala’s 63-point win against Echuca United in the opening round of the 2023 season.
Joining Gugliotti at the Blues this year are his Kyabram reserves grand final teammates from last year, Mitchell Fitzgerald, Blake McAuliffe and James Ross.
It was Gugliotti who was the star, often seemingly able to walk out of pack scenarios and wield onto his left foot to deliver the ball into attack.
Hair raising: James Ross came to Tongala via Kyabram after a stellar introduction to senior football at Kyabram district league club Lancaster. He kicked two goals from the wing and was a livewire all afternoon,
He is the son of 1993 Morrison Medallist Benny and played nine games with the Bombers senior team last season.
Eight goals to Echuca United’s two after half-time gave new Tongala coach Matt Daniel his first win as the Blues built significantly on a 15-point half-time lead.
Tongala had 32 scoring shots to nine in the win, scoring 13.19 (97) to United’s 5.4 (34), with Merrigum recruit Tom Cooper also impressing for Tongala.
Cooper kept Echuca United captain, and key goalkicker James Harney to just one goal before Harney was forced into the mid-field.
Gugliotti’s work on-ball came alongside former league medallist Coby McCarthy, a chiselled Dominic Watt and another Merrigum recruit Jack Sinclair.
They were given an armchair ride by domination of new captain Kyle Fitzgerald in the ruck.
The “other’’ Fitzgerald, Mitchell, kicked three goals on debut with the Blues, while former Bomber teammates McAuliffe and Ross both kicked two goals. Add a pair of six-pointers from Gugliotti when pushing forward from the mid-field and the recruits contribution was significant.
Mackenzie Ryan took several strong marks in the difficult windy conditions and finished the match with three goals, with the only single goalkicker being Sam Cipriani — in his return from the Northern Territory after a season with Nightcliff.
Yet another recruit, Riley Clarke, played alongside experienced Brock McLean and Andrew Hummerston in defence.
McLean generalled the back six like the veteran he is and rarely missed his target by foot. His presence is vital with neither Corey Nexhip or Adam Lovison in the Blues defensive line-up this season.
Captain’s call: Kyle Fitzgerald dominated in the ruck in his first game as captain of the club, providing first use to a fleet-footed on-ball brigade.
Clarke, who played in a grand final with Strathfieldsaye in the Bendigo League last year, will be an asset with his balance and foot skills.
He has two strings to his bow, having kicked 17 goals from 18 goals for his club last season. He is a former Bendigo Pioneer and played senior football in the Goulburn Valley at Echuca as a teenager.
Tongala has its traditional Good Friday match with Nathalia, at the Purples’ home ground this week and then faces Moama the following week.
Moama lost a replay of last year’s grand final with Mulwala by just two points and Nathalia was beaten by 23 points by Cobram.
Three-goal debut: Mitchell Fitzgerald kicked the first goal of the game for Tongala and finished with three for the match in his debut with the Blues.
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