Marong Panthers on the prowl with new recruits

The Panthers have new recruits in Josh Gitsham, Shannon Milward and Lance Brown, who all have league medals on their footballing CVs.

Milward won the 2008 Bendigo league Michelsen Medal at Eaglehawk; Gitsham was a back-to-back winner of the Heathcote District league’s Cheatley Medal in 2011 and 2012 with North Bendigo; while Brown has twice won the Central Murray league medal with Lalbert in 2003 and 2006.

The trio join new coach Damien Lock at Marong.

Former North Bendigo ruckman Gitsham hasn’t played the past two years since retiring after 2013.

“He didn’t take much talking around. He has had a good break, freshened his body up and wanted to have another go at it while he’s feeling good,” Lock said.

“Getting him on board will be a big boost for us. He’s not just a ruckman, the way he plays is he’s another on-baller for us, so it’s fantastic to have him.”

The Panthers will add Brown to their midfield.

As well as winning a pair of league medals with Lalbert, Brown also played in Sea Lake-Nandaly Tigers’ Mallee league premiership team last year.

Milward is an Eaglehawk premiership team-mate of Lock, who last year played with Mount Pleasant, kicking a bag of eight goals early in the season against Lockington-Bamawm United.

“Shannon is getting towards the end of his career, but he’s still super fit and will give us 12 or so games, and a fair bit of experience that has probably been lacking a bit out at Marong,” Lock said.

Lock – who was an assistant coach at Eaglehawk last year – has also lured forward Ryan Wellington and Justin Bateson, who made his senior Bendigo league debut aged 15 in 2012, from Canterbury Park.

“Ryan will most likely slot in at full-forward for us, and Justin was starved of opportunities last year. He was in and out, so I think it will be good for him to play a full year of senior footy and play a big role,” Lock said.

And after two cameo appearances with Harcourt and the Southern Mallee Giants last year, Lock also has plans to pull the boots back on. 

“I’m doing all the training at the moment, and with my boxing I’m feeling really fit, so I might as well have a kick while I still can,” said Lock, who has previously coached Heathcote District league clubs North Bendigo and Colbinabbin to grand finals.

As well as the recruits, the Panthers also have plenty of young talent coming through having won last year’s under-18 flag.

The Panthers have lost 2014 best and fairest Craig Morris, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in round one last year, to Tooleybuc-Manangatang, while forward Josh McKee is playing with Eaglehawk.