Sport
30 July, 2026
Finals-bound clubs looking to 2027
INGLEWOOD has reappointed coach Jackson Hood for next season, but the future of his high-profile assistant Ian Aitken is up in the air.
INGLEWOOD has reappointed coach Jackson Hood for next season, but the future of his high-profile assistant Ian Aitken is up in the air.
Hood has the Blues sitting comfortably in fourth spot on the ladder, and club president Darrell Billett said reappointing him was “a no-brainer for us”.
Former Carlton premiership player and vastly experienced coach Aitken has effectively been match-day coach this season from the bench, but he has plans to travel overseas next year to mark his 60th birthday.
However, he may be wavering in that commitment, having already told Billett that a planned three-month trip was now down to six weeks.
“We’d love him to jump back in,” Billett said, while acknowledging that Aitken’s role might change if he is away for an extended period during the season.
“He’s actively talking to us about next year, and ideally he still wants to be involved.”
Aitken’s son Charlie joined Inglewood this season through his close friendship with Blues star Bregon Cotchett, and Billett was hopeful both would return for 2027.
He said that after some initial teething problems, Hood and Aitken had developed a strong working partnership.
Aitken, with wide experience in coaching at higher levels than the Loddon Valley, had taken a few weeks to temper his expectations in his new role as senior assistant.
“When they started off, Hoody and ‘Beaser’ (Aitken) didn’t really know each other,” Billett said.
“There was nothing alarming, but in the first three weeks we didn’t play the game we wanted to play.”
Traditionally, Inglewood has thrown open its coaching positions for the next season every August, but Billett said it was sometimes a token gesture, and the club didn’t want to offend Hood.
“We’re really happy with him, and he is keen to get right into it again.”
Hood’s reappointment means that all the Loddon Valley’s top five teams – the likely finalists this season – have committed to retaining their coaches next year, along with Newbridge.
Bridgewater’s Lachie Sharp has signed a two-year deal, while Pyramid Hill’s Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Macorna’s Fergus Payne have penned one-year contracts.
Sharp said his new two-year deal “will probably see me out”.
The star goalkicker, who brought up his 100th goal for the season against Maiden Gully last Saturday, will be 37 when his contract ends.
Multiple year deals are rare in country football, but Sharp said both he and the club were keen on a longer contract.
The second year will mark Bridgewater’s 150th anniversary as a club, and Sharp wanted to be part of that celebration.
Jayden Cordy will coach Newbridge for a second year, with key defender Jon Coe also signing for another season.
Cordy, while missing finals, has led the Maroons to six wins this year after the team only won three in 2025, and expects to have key players, including captain Brandon Dimech and Coe, fit again after their seasons ended early with injury.
Marong has reappointed James Flaherty, who will coach the Panthers in either the Loddon Valley or the Bendigo league in 2027.
Bendigo approved Marong’s request to transfer leagues next year, but Loddon Valley clubs voted strongly against the move.
Its appeal will now be decided by AFL Central Victoria’s independent region council next month.
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