Lower-ladder Goulburn Valley League sides Shepparton United and Benalla are continuing to make moves in bids to ascend the table in 2026, with multiple gun recruits set to don the Demons or Saints colours next year.
United has secured the commitment of Connor Hayes, a former captain at Dookie United, as well as poaching two of Murchison-Toolamba’s Kyabram District League premiership players.
Kallyun Sanders and Leigh Wellington have departed the Grasshoppers’ green and gold for red and blue after the pair claimed back-to-back senior flags at Murchison-Toolamba.
Sanders, an experienced journeyman in the Goulburn Valley landscape, joins former teammate and current co-coach of the Demons Trent Freer, while Wellington adds his veteran forward craft to the mix of an ever-growing talented Demons list.
Meanwhile, Benalla has added a pair of Northern Territory Football League bodies to the mix in the likes of Kevin Maroney and Michael Mummery.
Maroney is an NTFL side Darwin Buffaloes’ senior best and fairest winner, and is regarded as one of the best home-grown Top End products this century.
Mummery featured in the Talent League pathway as a junior, and had starred in the now-disbanded NEAFL competition for the NT Thunder.
Both Maroney and Mummery are familiar with the Goulburn Valley having played in the Murray Football League for Rumbalara this year.
Mummery finished in the top 10 of the league’s best and fairest, while Maroney was listed in the best from 19 of a possible 29 games across 2024 and 2025.
Across to Tatura and Kyabram, and the Bulldogs and Bombers have seen the exits of Adam Enever and Eamonn Ogden to AFL Barwon’s Leopold and Essendon District Football League’s Pascoe Vale respectively.
Enever, a high-flying athletic defender, featured in all 18 games for Tatura, while Ogden featured in 17 home-and-away senior games this year.
Wrapping up the GVL player movement, Mooroopna has signed Jordan Anderson.
Anderson has played for local football powerhouse Heidelberg, but joins cousin and Cats skipper Ben Hicks in hoops for 2026 as a quick and hard-running defender.
Additionally, Shepparton superstar netballer Kim Borger is committed to the Bear Den going back-to-back, re-signing on as coach for the maroon and gold which claimed its first ever A-grade premiership in September.
Murray Football League grand finalists Cobram and Congupna have made fresh signings to bolster their lists ahead of next year’s campaign too.
The Tigers have locked in Bowen Calogero to a deal, a Murray Bushrangers and VFL product who recently played at interleague level for Ovens and Murray in 2025, while Dion Gleeson is coming back down The Road, returning to Congupna to play an experienced swingman role.
In the Picola District League, reigning premiers Katamatite are on the hunt for more success, recruiting James Kam to the side.
Kam makes the move from MFL club Numurkah, entering the Tigers squad as a hard-nosed midfielder-defender.
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