Shepparton’s Ted Lindon stated a retirement decision was “50/50” in August.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
There’s no rest for the wicked in the football world, and Shepparton United has made its intentions to ascend from the lower rungs of the Goulburn Valley League ladder next year clear.
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Meanwhile, venue-sharing club Shepparton has announced a raft of re-signings, including that of a former coach, while Murchison-Toolamba’s list build for a Kyabram District League three-peat is already taking top priority.
In the space of two and a half hours the Demons declared two experienced signings that could boost the club’s credibility towards a finals berth in 2026.
On Wednesday, Shepparton United announced a major poach from suburban competition Eastern Football Netball League, signing senior captain of the Heathmont Jets, Jordan Haynes.
Haynes has VFL experience at Box Hill and also was a Talent League representative as a junior for Eastern Ranges.
The signing comes following VFL export Angus Hicks’ decision to retire from Werribee and play at the Demons full time.
Haynes is cousins with Hicks, as well as with other United players Fraser and Lochlan Hicks, and the family ties to the club drove Haynes’ decision to play at the Skene Street end of Deakin Reserve.
Later in the afternoon, the Demons announced a further signing, this time to its off-field department.
A former premiership player and senior coach, Shepparton United unveiled that Tim Looby will make his return to the fold next season as an assistant coach.
The former player skippered at interleague level for the GVL and is revered as a club legend at Demonland.
On Monday, the Demons also revealed premiership Ovens and Murray League player Matt Casey will depart the Yarrawonga hoops for the red yoke of United.
A key forward that can swing into defence, Casey has played at interleague level and is another experienced head for the Demons to add to their roster.
The Demons announced a further recruit on the weekend, inking a deal with Essendon District Football League team of the year defender Brodie Newman.
Newman played Talent League as a junior, before playing SANFL at Glenelg where he won a premiership as full back.
His last two years have been at Aberfeldie in the EDFL’s premier division.
To the western end of Deakin Reserve, the Bears have announced a host of re-signings for 2026.
Recommitted stars include Ash Holland, Luke Smith, Lewis McShane and Jake Watts, all of which were named in The News’ GVL team of the year.
Hidden amongst the pack is also Ted Lindon, who stepped down from coaching duties at season’s end.
Lindon told The News in August he had leant towards hanging up the boots at the end of the season early in the year, but as the Bears made a run into finals, the defensive stalwart felt the decision to play on another year was “50/50”.
Now with pen to paper, Lindon’s playing career at the maroon and gold will continue for a further 12 months.
Across to the Kyabram District League, league-leading goalkicker and grand final best-on-ground James Lloyd has re-signed at Murchison-Toolamba.
The superstar key forward kicked 97 goals in the home and away season, topped off with a bag of five in the grand final to surpass the ton, including kicking the premiership-sealing major from a tight angle on the cusp of the 50 metre arc.
Recommitted Grasshopper James Lloyd was best-on-ground in Murchison-Toolamba’s 2025 premiership win.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Additionally, the Grasshoppers have also secured Tyrin Atkinson, a big-bodied midfielder from the Northern Territory Football League.
The hard-nosed tall will play at Palmerston in the NTFL for the 2025-26 summer, before joining the Hoppers for the 2026 KDL season.
Former VFL-listed footballer Jack Sexton is returning to boyhood club Finley in the Murray Football League as playing coach, returning on a two-year project to lead for at least the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Sexton played juniors at Finley before playing for Yarrawonga between 2017 to 2021, with a one-year stint at Richmond VFL in the COVID-19 impacted season of 2020, before spending three years in Queensland on Southport’s VFL list.
Sexton played in both grand finals for the Sharks in 2024 and 2025.
Brother Will Sexton also joins Finley in a playing capacity - he too was at Southport, albeit from 2024 onwards, playing in the 2025 grand final loss to Footscray.
