WODONGA Raiders’ off-season rebuild is showing no signs of slowing down with exciting forward Jydon Neagle joining a long list of arrivals at Birallee Park.
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Neagle, who was a chance to be picked up in the AFL rookie draft, will return to the Ovens and Murray club after spending last season with the Murray Bushrangers and Walla.
He played a handful of senior matches for the Raiders last year.
Neagle’s coup takes the Raiders’ signings to 14 with the majority aged between 18 and 22.
New club president Nic Conway said the Raiders needed to work hard to climb back up the ladder after collecting this year’s wooden spoon.
“Our recruiting strategy has been about getting kids to the club who could potentially play 100-plus games in time,” Conway said.
“Jydon is another who fits into that bracket.
“We have targeted 18 to 22-year-olds who could turn into the next Dustin Burns, Daniel Steinhauser and Daniel Rankin who all came to our club around the same time.”
Co-coach Ben Klemke, Steven Jolliffe and Tim Brook (Queanbeyan), Luke Visser (Northern Blues), Kasey Duncan (Euroa), Nick Shelley (Corowa-Rutherglen), Andrew Wall (Wentworth), Jak Hancock (Howlong), Kade Rowe (Tungamah), Dylan Cornford (Reservoir), Stu Williams (Holbrook) and Jack McCallum (Henty) have also come on board.
The change has been just as big off the field.
Conway, the club’s games record-holder, has taken over the presidency from Stephen Hudson and is heavily involved in the new-look football department.
Former president Brian Collins has returned as vice-president, while Anthony Hernan, Nathan Wolter and Ross Lovel have also joined the board.
“We need to improve every part of the club,” Conway said.
“A lot of work has been put in and there is a lot of work to go.”
He said the club wanted past players, supporters and officials back at the club.
