Full-forward fuels premiership bid

RIVERINA Football League (RFL) heavyweight Coolamon has strengthened its bid for an elusive premiership with the signing of accomplished full-forward Jason Brown.A premiership coach with The Rock-Yerong Creek, Brown arrives at Coolamon as a ready-mate replacement for departed Hoppers full-forward Brendon McKelvie.While the signing is a massive boost for Coolamon, Brown joins a growing list of players leaving the Magpies ahead of the Farrer League season.Coolamon captain-coach Sam Keenan announced the signing yesterday and believes Brown is exactly what the Hoppers need.“We’re rapt,” Keenan said.“He’s obviously a very good footballer, straight kicker and another experienced player to have around the club.”Coolamon possessed one of the most dangerous forward-lines in the competition last season and looked to be in trouble when McKelvie left the club.But with the addition of Brown and the return of former Coolamon coach Matt Hard, the Hoppers have picked up a couple dangerous forward options.In more good news for Coolamon, Jamie Maddox and Adam McKenzie have also returned to the club after stints in the Farrer League with Northern Jets and Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka respectively.The Hoppers have also secured the services of Tasmanian midfielder Corey Schultz, a recent arrival in the area.The addition of Brown, Maddox, McKenzie and Schultz adds to the earlier signings of Hard, Ryan Chamberlain and Rick Daniher.Keenan said Coolamon now possessed a much more complete list.“Something that we were lacking last year was depth through the midfield,” Keenan said.“Now with these signings, it’s going to give the likes of Eddie Edis, Connor Neyland and Luke Maloney an opportunity to spend more time up forward or down back.“It just gives us that bit of leeway now.“Then you’ve got young guys like Jackson Kew, Mitch Stevenson, Zac Robinson, Sam Robinson and Jake Higgins who are going to be coming through and pushing for senior positions.”The club is still hopeful of retaining talented utility Nathan Edyvean.Edyvean has been training with Ovens and Murray League club Wodonga Bulldogs but it still unsure of his movements for this season.