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MITIAMO’S bid to go one better than its Loddon Valley league runner-up finishes in three of the past four years has been given a major boost with the addition of Tyrone Downie as its new co-coach.
Star forward Downie will join Andy Grant in the co-coaching role for the Superoos.
As well as co-coaching, Downie – a former Gold Coast Suns rookie-listed player – will also provide the Superoos with a strong forward presence.
“Tyrone will come on as a joint coach with myself, which is great for the club,” Grant said on Sunday.
“He’s a player who brings a lot of experience to us with the football he has played. He’s a great leader and is a fantastic addition.
“He’s obviously a quality forward, but we also see him playing a fair bit through the midfield as well.”
Downie has previous coaching experience with both Kangaroo Flat and Barooga.
Downie spent 2015 on Gold Coast’s rookie list.
While the 30-year-old didn’t play any AFL games with the club, he was selected in the NEAFL Team of the Year that season and was named the Suns’ best NEAFL player.
Downie holds a piece of footballing trivia in Bendigo as both the first and last player drafted from the now defunct Bendigo Gold.
As well as his VFL stint with the Bendigo Gold, Downie is also well known for his six years spent with Kangaroo Flat between 2008 and 2013, kicking 255 goals.
Downie joins the Superoos on the back of the club losing last month’s grand final to Newbridge by 44 points.
The Superoos were also beaten grand finalists in 2015 and 2016 – both against Bridgewater – with the club determined to take the next step in 2019 in what will be Mitiamo’s 130th anniversary season.
READ MORE – Loddon Valley league 2018 season review
Star midfielder Dougie Thomas endured the grand final losses of 2015-16 and after two seasons away from Mitiamo is returning to the Superoos next season.
Thomas spent this season playing with Huntly and is still chasing that elusive first senior premiership in his career.
Thomas suffered a knee injury in the finals series for Huntly, but Grant says he will be raring to go come round one next year.
The recruits to the Superoos also include Tim Brooks, who like Downie has previously played at both Kangaroo Flat and Barooga.
“Brooksy can play either key forward or back, so he give us some flexibility,” Grant said.
Downie’s younger brother, Brent, a wingman/half-forward, is also joining the Superoos, while Matt Wiegard is returning and will add to the club’s defence.
The Downie brothers and Brooks were all part of the Barooga team that lost this year’s Murray league grand final to powerhouse Nathalia.
The Superoos have also signed young ruckman Braydan Riddell from Maiden Gully YCW.
Riddell won the best-on-ground medal in this year’s LVFNL under-18 grand final.
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