RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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RIVERINA Football League premier Coolamon has landed arguably the biggest signing of the off-season by securing the services of Canberra midfielder Peter McGrath.
The outgoing Tuggeranong coach agreed to terms with Coolamon this week and is set to bolster a midfield that already boasts two league medallists and a former AFL player.
McGrath has played more than 200 senior games in the AFL Canberra and North Eastern Australian Football League (NEAFL) and represented ACT from 2001 to 2006.
McGrath, 32, was the head coach of Tuggeranong in the NEAFL last season before the club was moved back to AFL Canberra division one for next season.
McGrath has enjoyed an outstanding football career in Canberra, winning best and fairests at Ainslie and Tuggeranong, while he was rookie listed by AFL club Sydney Swans in 2000 and 2001.
New Coolamon coach Lew Roberts is thrilled to land a signing of the magnitude of McGrath and described it as one of the Hoppers' biggest coups since Wayne Weidemann joined the club.
"It's a massive signing for us," Roberts said yesterday.
"The cards just fell into place for us and we're rapt to have a guy of Pete's quality join our club.
"The young blokes I know will learn a lot off a guy of his calibre, Pete is a pretty professional bloke."
McGrath played with Roberts and fellow Coolamon players Ben Fixter and Luke Maloney with the NSW-ACT Rams, and also Ryan Chamberlain at Eastlake.
He will travel from Canberra with Nathan Edyvean, who has committed to a full season with the Hoppers.
Roberts believes McGrath will add a new dimension to the Hoppers' midfield.
"He played on-ball swapping off half-back this year but that was more so because Tuggeranong was struggling a little bit I think," Roberts said.
"We might look to swap him up forward and use him a little bit more on the attack.
"This is not anything against our midfield but he's probably a bit more of a classier midfielder, a finisher.
"He's different to the guys we've got and that's what we wanted. He's going to help take the load off a few other guys."
It is Coolamon's first signing of the off-season and a significant one for the premiers.
Importantly, the Hoppers have retained Mitch Stephenson, who was strongly pursued by Farrer League club The Rock-Yerong Creek.
Best and fairest winner Murray Stephenson is set for a move to South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club Central District, but that is dependent on employment.
The only confirmed departures from the premiership team is Ben Cadzow, and the retirement of James McKenzie.
Zac Masterson has switched to Coolamon from Turvey Park, while the club is still hopeful of retaining the services of Tasmanian forward Jake Wiggers.
Peter McGrath
1999 - co-captain NSW-ACT Rams
2000-01 Sydney Swans rookie list
2001-2006 ACT representative player
2001, 2003 AFL Canberra Team of the Year
2003 Ainslie co-captain, best and fairest
2005 Ainslie most valuable player award
2006 Eastlake assistant coach
2009 Coach of Eastlake's Rising Demons Program
2013 Tuggeranong senior coach, best and fairest