BROADFORD’S eagerly-anticipated arrival in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League kicks off in a stand-alone clash with South Bendigo.
The Kangaroos have not fielded a football team since 2023, but kept playing on the Northern FNL’s netball courts.
On the footy front Broadford appointed Nathan Thompson as senior coach.
Thompson’s experience from more than 170 matches in the AFL with Hawthorn and North Melbourne is a huge plus.
He is no stranger to the Bendigo league having played for and coached Kyneton seniors.
Taking on Broadford’s top role is another massive challenge Thompson has jumped into.
Many past players have rejoined a Roos squad which boasts “gun” recruit Quinton Narkle who played at AFL level with Geelong, Port Adelaide and Fremantle.
The Kangaroos have put together a young squad determined to be competitive on a journey to challenge the Bendigo FNL’s big guns not just in ’26, but across many seasons.
Players to watch for Broadford include Riley Edwards, Charlie Neilson, and forward CJ Brill.
A defence led by Ollie Lubeck, Adam Miles and Matt Dunbar faces a huge test against the Bloods.
Fourth last season, South Bendigo has bolstered its squad significantly in terms of experience and size.
A Bloods’ line-up jointly coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, has welcomed back former coach Nathan Horbury from Noosa and also signed former Elmore coach Nathan Kay.
There’s also plenty of scope in the ruck department as the Bloods have Callum Crisp, a fully-fit Mac Cameron and exciting youngster Zaydyn Lockwood as options.
In attack there’s Brock Harvey who earnt the Ron Best Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker last season and another previous Best medallist in Kaiden Antonowicz.
A talented midfield includes Coen Harker and Tom Templeton who were team-mates at Aspley and join forces with Brody Haddow and Josh Nitschke to set up plenty of attacks.
The Bloods have shifted Will Allen to defence in pre-season to join the hard-running Fallon, Isaiah Miller, Zac Hare and another exciting youngster in Ollie Turnbull.
It’s a testing start to South Bendigo’s season as the showdown in Broadford will be following by playing Strathfieldsaye in Storm territory at Triple M Park and then Gisborne at Harry Trott Oval.
