On the same day it announced the re-signing of long-serving coach Damien McMahon, Newtown & Chilwell has suffered a double blow with the departure of a pair of star midfielders to their junior clubs.
Reigning best-and-fairest Matt Boag and two-time winner Blake Sutterby have told the Eagles they won’t be at Elderslie Reserve next year.
Boag has returned to reigning Bellarine premier Torquay after eight seasons in the GFNL for 108 games and 78 goals at the ‘Towners and Grovedale.
After 67 games, Sutterby is heading back across the Barwon to Geelong Amateur, where he was part of the second and third legs of Ammos’ hat trick of flags between 2014 and 16.
The addition of Sutterby adds another prime mover to Amateur’s midfield following the signing of Tom Gribble.
It is understood Boag and Sutterby won’t be the only departures from Elderslie Reserve, with forward Lachie Bond likely to play elsewhere in 2024.
McMahon has been in charge of Newtown & Chilwell since 2017 and, at 107 games, is second only to the late Kevin Higgins for games coached at the Eagles in the GFNL era.
Former Geelong star David Wojcinski, who guided the club to their most recent grand final in 2015 and was in charge of their championship-winning division one under-18 team, has joined McMahon’s staff as defensive coach.
Meanwhile, Leopold has unveiled a potential replacement for retired big man Trent West.
200cm Sam Dukalskis has arrived at Leopold Memorial Park from South Australia.
From Mt Gambier, he spent time on the list of SANFL club North Adelaide and most recently played with St Peter’s Old Collegians in the Adelaide Footy League.
