TALLANGATTA has rebounded from a potentially disastrous pre-season by signing Wodonga defender Sam Livingstone and Albury midfielder Joel O’Connell as coach and assistant-coach.
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Livingstone, 27, came through the junior ranks and played senior football for the club in 2005 while O’Connell has strong family ties with the Hoppers.
In another boost, accomplished Wodonga netballers Anna Avery and Liona Edwards will be joining the TDFL club.
Livingstone is confident of holding Tallangatta’s list together despite the departure of several key players, including James Breen, to Hume league clubs.
I’m pretty excited to do my own thing and get back to the roots of where it all started
- Sam Livingstone
“We have started a little bit behind the other clubs but we are about retaining our list at the moment and working hard on a few recruits,” Livingstone said.
“So far we have lost a few players and a couple of other boys are doing pre-seasons in town but we are going pretty well.
“I think we will shape up alright.”
Livingstone, who has played for Wodonga since 2012, said his decision to enter coaching ranks was made tougher by the Bulldogs’ emergence in the Ovens and Murray.
“It was a really, really tough call leaving the Doggies to be perfectly honest because the success is going to come in a little while and unfortunately I’ll miss that but I’m pretty excited to do my own thing and get back to the roots of where it all started,” he said.
“Joel and I will learn as we go.
“We’re excited by what’s ahead of us.
“Joel has been super and it’s all been happening at the club in the football and netball.”
Since leaving Tallangatta as a youngster, Livingstone has captained the Murray Bushrangers and played for Wodonga Raiders, Port Melbourne, South Adelaide and Wodonga.
O’Connell came through the juniors at Albury and has played in four senior premierships before being an emergency this season.
Tallangatta will start training at Tallangatta on November 16 while the netballers will kick off at Willow Park the following day.
