Thurgoona lock in Wodonga midfielder Brett Doswell as coach for next year

Doswell will end his 143-match Ovens and Murray career at the end of the home and away series to take over from co-coaches Jayden Kotzur and Jamarl O’Sullivan.

Kotzur and O’Sullivan will stay on as players at Thurgoona.

“It was out of the blue,’” Doswell, 34, said.

“I was tossing up a few ideas about next year and then this came up a couple of weeks ago.

“It all happened fairly quickly to be honest.

“I’m really looking forward to it.

“The club is in a good position and hopefully we can continue that on.”

It will be Doswell’s second foray into coaching after he led Hume league club Holbrook for three seasons.

Doswell starred in a pre-season match against Thurgoona earlier this season and said the club’s stability was a big factor in him committing to the Tallangatta and District league powerhouse.

“I’ve known Jayden Kotzur for a long time and ‘Sully’ (O’Sullivan) too and it just seemed like a good opportunity,” he said.

“A lot of players have signed on again which is one of the things I was looking for.

“It’s going to be hard leaving Wodonga because ideally I would have liked to have played for a couple more years but my body wouldn’t let me.

“It’s hard to keep your body at that level.”

The former Victorian Country and Ovens and Murray representative had also been on the radar of his original club Wagga Tigers.

After a string of disasters in finals, Thurgoona has won back-to-back premierships and is well placed for more success with the Bulldogs sitting in third spot on the ladder.

O’Sullivan said Doswell would be a fantastic addition to the club.

“He brings a lot of experience and is a class player,” O’Sullivan said.

“We’re rapt to have him on board.

“We’ve had a commitment from a lot of players for next season and, with all the kids pushing up at the moment, hopefully we can stay a very competitive side.”