FORMER Mildura stars Ryan and Adam O’Callaghan are set to return to their old club for the 2013 Sunraysia Football and Netball League season.
After playing for Ouyen in the Mallee Football League, the brothers will continue wearing blue and red guernseys, but change alliances to the SFNL.
Ryan, the 2003 McLeod Medallist, has coached Ouyen for the past three seasons. Michael Eccles will also return to the ranks as the club confirmed its 2012 list had recommited for next season.
It puts the young side in a good position to build on its first finals appearance this year since 2008, before losing to South Mildura in the semi-final.
O’Callaghan said he looked forward to getting back into the Mildura ranks.
“I’ve been playing and coaching out at Ouyen for the past three
seasons and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that, but with the constant travel I just thought the time was right to come back to Mildura,” he said.
“I’ll just be playing – I’ll be focusing on playing a role and adding a bit of experience to such a young group.
“I’m very excited to be able to play with this group.
“Hopefully, we will continue to improve and maybe jump up the ladder a couple of spots in the next couple of years. I’m just really looking forward to getting back to Mildura.”
Mildura boasts a lot of young talent, led by best-and-fairest and Rising Star winner Jesse Vallance, Marcus and Damon Healy, Justin Frankel and Mitch Stevens.
Add to that mix coach Todd Hughes, Josh Dawson, Andrew Richardson and Anthony Matthews, and the future looks promising.
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Friday's Sunraysia Daily 12-10-2012.