COROWA-Rutherglen will boast the most potent ruck combination in the Ovens and Murray Football League this season with confirmation Nick Whiterod will join the Roos.
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Whiterod, the premier ruckman in the Hume league in recent seasons, will work in tandem with former St Kilda player and VFL representative Chris Oliver as the Roos aim to build on their fifth-place finish last year.
The signing of Whiterod, who has been training with the Roos since before Christmas, follows the addition earlier this week of highly rated VAFA utility Matt Gadsden.
“His attitude from the minute he walked in the door has been brilliant,” Roos coach Peter Tossol said.
“He is one of the hardest-working big blokes I have seen on the track.
“He has made a real impression at the club and has become respected in a very short space of time.
“Nick along with Chris Oliver will form a very solid rucking combination.
“Nick has been a very good player at his previous clubs and I am sure he will have a real influence at our club.
“I have been very impressed with him as a player and as a person.”
Whiterod has played at Walla for the past three seasons and in 2006 he was key player for Balranald in its Central Murray league premiership win.
He was best-on-ground in the grand final and won the club’s best and fairest.
Between 2001-04 he played for Merbein in the Sunraysia league with the club winning back-to-back premierships in 2002-03.
He was a best and fairest winner at Merbein and played under former Essendon and Sydney Swans wingman Merv Neagle at both Balranald and Merbein.
Whiterod won Walla’s best and fairest in 2008 and finished runner-up in the Azzi Medal in 2009 and 2007.
Oliver joined the Roos from VFL club Frankston where he played 93 senior games after playing 10 senior games for St Kilda.
He had an interrupted preseason last year due to a groin complaint, but has been injury free in the build-up to this season which starts on April 3 with a home game against North Albury at John Foord Oval.
The Roos have a favourable early season draw with games against the five teams which missed finals last years, the Hoppers, Lavington, Wangaratta Rovers, Myrtleford and Wodonga Raiders in the first five games.
