Sport
11 April, 2026
Handy Jet lands in defence for Pies
LAST season’s wooden-spooners, Donald, meets 2025 North Central league finalists Boort on Saturday.
LAST season’s wooden-spooners, Donald, meets 2025 North Central league finalists Boort on Saturday.
On the face of it, it is an unequal battle between a team that was winless and largely uncompetitive last year and the team that finished fourth.
However, the Royal Blues have brought in an experienced co-coach, Matt Walder, to work with Daniel ‘Tex’ Pearce, while the Magpies’ list has undergone upheaval.
Donald spent a few nervous days sweating on a clearance for its most credentialed recruit, Pala Kuma, who played in Eaglehawk’s premiership last season in the Bendigo league and has appeared with Richmond in the VFL.
The clearance came through, and Kuma is expected to instantly improve the scoring options for a team that was bereft of goal kickers last year, as well as boost the midfield.
“He’s shown in the practice matches that he will be very important for us – and he’s a ripping bloke as well,” Pearce said.
The Royal Blues will have an almost full-strength team for round one.
Andrew Rutley takes over as Boort coach, leading a side that has lost dual best and fairest winner Jhye Baddeley-Kelly to Pyramid Hill, as well as its captain, Jarrod Fitzpatrick, who will coach the Loddon Valley Bulldogs.
A late signing for the Magpies is former Western Jets junior Lachlan Fitzgerald, who didn’t play last season while he concentrated on cricket.
“I coached him at Keilor,” Rutley said.
“He’s a running back, a six-footer and will be very handy.”
Rutley said Boort went into the season feeling confident.
“We have a pretty good set of players, and we will have a few unlucky boys who will miss out on selection.”
The Magpies expect their fine crop of juniors to play more senior football this season, while natural progression will also see the coach’s son, Kayne Rutley, taking on more responsibility after finishing second in the club’s best player award in his first season of senior football.
- GARY WALSH
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