‘This year is about playing for the jumper’: Tocumwal forging a new path in Murray league

PLAYER CHANGES

Ins: Dylan Flanagan (Billabong Crows), Andrew Dickins (Mangoplah), Josh Flight (Moulamein)

Outs: Luke Congram (Yarrawonga)

This off-season has been like no other at Tocumwal.

Embroiled in the Picola District Football League’s affiliation feud with AFL Victoria, the club ultimately shifted to Murray Football Netball League where it will embark on a new era.

What the move does mean, however, is that on the field the Bloods will be in for some short-term pain, as they make the step up into the far superior Murray league.

“It’s no secret that it is going to be tough,” Tocumwal coach Kade Rowe said.

“I spoke to the playing group and just said that this is in the best interests of the club, yes there will be weeks where we are right up against it and to be honest we will be on the end of a couple of floggings.

“We’re not playing for money, we’re not playing to make money, this year we are playing for the jumper.”

But while the results will most likely be grim, what this season does do for the Bloods is give their exciting band of youngsters a chance to test themselves at a higher level.

“It is going to be great for the development of our young guys and I’ve spoken to them about the fact that they will find out a lot about themselves very quickly,” Rowe said.

“Guys like Tom Barker, Ray Sutton, Harvey White and Zander Griffin, they will benefit so much from this experience.”