RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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NARRANDERA has followed through on its promise to focus on "local" players with the announcement that several familiar faces will return to the Eagles next season.
Former Narrandera coach Jamie Grintell heads a handful of former Eagles returning home and will be joined by Wes Kiley, Stu Hutchins and Steve Irons.
Grintell has spent the past two years as captain-coach of Farrer League club Northern Jets but has returned with Stu Hutchins to finish their careers at Narrandera.
Kiley, Narrandera's premiership captain in 2012, returns after one year at Hume League club Billabong Crows, while Irons returns from Finley.
New Narrandera captain-coach Lachie Hutchins is pleased to get some locals back at the club.
"It's good to get those boys on board," Hutchins said yesterday.
"It's been pretty quiet at the moment but we had 16 or 18 blokes at training the other day which isn't too bad."
Unfortunately, while Narrandera has been able to welcome players back, it has also leaked some player losses.
It had hoped to regain the services of Jed Hillman and Drew Kenna but both have joined Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka and Coleambally respectively.
Andrew Johnston will not return for a third season, while the Canberra crew of Jim Rice, Jay Kickett, Glenn Currie, Mark Rice, Kurt Masters, Cody Kickett and Alex Lawder are unlikely to back up for another season.
Hutchins said young Narrandera talent Zane Litchfield has been picked up by Lockhart, while the club remains hopeful it will hang on to Mark Flack despite an approach from North Wagga.
Hutchins hopes to add to the recruit list in the near future.
"If we can get another midfielder and a key forward, that's going to give us a strong starting 18," Hutchins said.
"We're still chasing a few but it's hard to get signings at this time of year."
Hutchins will slot straight into Narrandera's midfield, along with Kiley.
Stu Hutchins and Steve Irons will join the likes of Damon Burden and young Jakob Vearing in defence, while Grintell will add class to Narrandera's forward line.
"If we can get a big forward then it's going to free Jamie up," Hutchins said.
"I've never played with Jamie but just from training the other night you can tell he's very skilful."