Riley Smith, a three-time premiership player with Echuca, is joining the Blues after 108 games for the Murray Bombers and four appearances with the GVL representative side.
He is the brother of Caleb Smith, who played several seasons with Blues a few years ago.
Tongala pulled off a recruiting coup shortly after last year’s GVL grand final when it persuaded one of Kyabram’s 2025 premiership heroes, Tom Holman, to join it for the 2026 season.
The Blues have Jordan Souter back as coach and other recruits he is banking on to add more depth and class to the club’s ranks are Smith’s Echuca teammate Joe Guiney and returning ruckman Jack Monigatti.
The Blues will again have veteran Top End star Cam Ilett, now living in Adelaide, back as a fly-in player.
Main losses are Jack Sinclair, who has joined Kyabram, and key forward Sam Cipriani, who has moved to Perth.
Souter said his side was coming from a long way back but he believed with a lot of hard work it could make significant improvement in the 2026 season.
Numurkah signs Lambourn
In another Murray League recruiting coup, Numurkah has won the signature of young Shepparton sporting talent Oscar Lambourn.
Lambourn, 18, has played 28 senior games with the GVL Bears.
The son of GVL Morrison medallist Mark Lambourn was a key player in Shepparton’s 2025 all-conquering under-18 premiership side and a main player in the club’s rebuilding program, so his loss will be keenly felt.
Lambourn’s departure comes after dual Numurkah best and fairest winner Kade O’Dwyer joined Shepparton for the 2026 season.
Sparks to fly in Rochy
Rochester Football Netball Club will have a familiar name in its football ranks this season.
Tom Sparks is joining the GVL Tigers from AFL Queensland club Noosa.
Tom is the son of former Melbourne and Rochester player Brad Sparks, who was a member of the Tigers’ 1999 GVL premiership side.
Sparks will join other recruits such as former Melbourne player Marty Hore, VFL prospect Ryley Ferguson and Mount Pleasant premiership player Fletcher White at Tigerland for his season.
Their arrivals have created plenty of optimism at the club, which is also expected have star regulars in Mitch Cricelli and Dylan Gordon returning after missing most of last season with injury.
Watson’s a winner
Kyabram trots trainer Mark Watson was in the winners’ circle at last week’s Sheppaton meeting with his pacer Totally Stunning.
The four-year-old Art Major mare, with Jack Laugher in the sulky, stormed home to win her second race in 19 career starts. She has filled a top-four placing on 12 occasions.
With five top-four finishes at her previous five starts, Totally Stunning was well overdue for her second career win.
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