2025 SEASON PREVIEW: South Bendigo FNC
After a disappointing year in 2024, South Bendigo are entering the 2025 season fresh one of the most high profile off-season’s we’ve seen in football and netball.
New coaches, new players, old players returning and a few big-name recruits has the Bloods confidence sky high with the season just around the corner.
Football Preview
South Bendigo’s Round 1 Senior football side is going to be unrecognisable compared to the side that took the field in 2024.
A recruiting spree that started with two new Co-Coaches will see Jack Fallon (White Hills) and Troy Coates (Kerang) lead the Bloods into the 2025 season.
Both Coates and Fallon aren’t new to coaching and bring a wealth of experience on and off the field and all those skills will be tested as they look to bring a vastly new South Bendigo team together.
While South Bendigo’s recruiting success has been much discussed, see below a roundup of the notable inclusions
Key SBFNC recruits
- Josh Nitschke – A tall midfielder with elite fitness who arrives from Kerang
- Macgregor Cameron – No stranger to Harry Trott Oval, “Big Mac” returns to South Bendigo and immediately becomes a leading ruckman in the BFNL.
- Joel Swatten – A strong contested midfielder who returns to South Bendigo from Maryborough. Arguably, the Bloods best player in their practise matches.
- Jack Fallon – Previous Eaglehawk B&F winner who heads to the Bloods fresh off a Premiership at White Hills as Co-Coach. Jack adds elite skills and game sense to the Bloods lineup.
- Kaiden Antonowicz – Again, no stranger to the BFNL or South Bendigo. A previous Ron Best Medallist who also arrives off a Premiership at White Hills as Co-Coach.
- Callum Crisp – Heads to South Bendigo from White Hills as a ruckman who provides the perfect support to “Big Mac”.
- Hayden Geddes – Joins from Donald in the NCFL
Whilst their depth and talent cannot be questioned, with 14 or 15 new and returning players, how will the Bloods adapt and blend together as a team for 2025?
From the Coach
Success has followed Troy Coates to most of the Clubs he has coached and played at including at his most recent stop in Kerang where he scored 2 of the last 3 Central Murray FNL premierships.
Moving to a new Club in South Bendigo, Coates has settled in well saying “The move has given me a new lease on life as a coach. I needed a fresh start and working with the South Bendigo Committee has been super.”
Talking about the dynamic with Co-Coach, Jack Fallon, Coates said “I’ve loved working with Jack. I’ve had plenty of experience working with Co-Coaches and our dynamic is really good.”
“We have a great playing group who buys into our structures and game plan and that has really inspired me to get stuck in.”
When asked about the new playing group, Coates highlighted the preseason of Joel Swatton.
“Joel has had a huge off-season. He’s come back from Maryborough with an elite work rate and fitness which has seen him be a standout in our practise matches
Given the large turnover of players, the Bloods have played 3 practise matches against Moama, Kyabram and Mount Pleasant.
“With so many new players, we wanted to give the boys a few big hit outs in the preseason. The match play has helped us gel as a team and learn a new game plan and structures.
“We have a tough draw the first month or so, but the reality is that the whole season is going to be super competitive. There’ll be no easy games.”
“As a Club, we’ve taken a whole of Club approach and that starts with the Juniors as a foundation. There is a fantastic vibe around the Club and we want to be playing Finals football.”
Netball Preview
Like the football department, South Bendigo’s Netball squads have a lot of new faces, most notably the appointment of a BFNL legend, Lauren Bowles as a playing Coach of their A-Squad.
Fresh off a 9-year stint at White Hills, Bowles returns to the BFNL after an illustrious 10-year and 188 game playing career at Kangaroo Flat FNC.
Joining Bowles at Harry Trott is Gabe Richards who leaves an Elmore side that won the 2024 HDFNL Premiership.
Richards is a well-known commodity in the Bendigo region and brings a wealth of knowledge to the Bloods. Richards was also added to the Bendigo Strikers Championship squad for 2025.
Key inclusions for South Bendigo are:
- Gabe Richards – Elmore
- Andrea Wilson - Elmore
- Tegan Ellison – Kerang
- Amy Leetham – White Hills
- Kyla Byrne - Castlemaine
From the Coach
Lauren Bowles is no stranger to the BFNL and the level that is required to succeed.
That said, it is a new Club for Bowles who when asked about how she is settling in at Harry Trott said “I’m really excited to be back in the BFNL. It is the benchmark for netball in the region and it’s a great showcase of the best talent and netball we have.”
After 9 years at White Hills, Bowles said “I feel like the transition to South Bendigo has been seamless. It’s been an exciting preseason and there is a great buzz around the Club.”
“As a coach, I have developed a lot in the last few years, and I am really keen to pass that information along to the next generation of BFNL netballer.”
When speaking on the addition of Gabe Richards, Bowles said, “Gabe is just the ultimate professional. She’s obviously an amazing player but she’s an even better person.”
“She truly has a wealth of knowledge and just knows how to deliver in the big moments. Most excitingly though, she is a great compliment for our existing players like Ella Flavell and Steph Goode.
With the A-Grade Netball tipped to be an even competition this year, Bowles said “We’re keen to be super consistent this season and put out great performances week in and week out.”
“Our ability to keep possession and make good decisions under pressure has haunted us in the past but with our additions to the squad, we should be playing Finals come the end of August.”
A Look Ahead
The Bloods kick off their season at Harry Trott Oval against Strathfieldsaye before heading to Gisborne for a blockbuster Good Friday matchup.
As announced recently, the Round 3 South Bendigo v Eaglehawk ANZAC Day matchup has been relocated to the QEO and will be played under lights.
