The Rock-Yerong Creek coach Tom Yates has declared 2018 a season of opportunity at the club as the Magpies confirmed the arrival of another pair of former Wagga Tigers for next season.
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Lachlan Myers and Sam Lucas have joined the Farrer League side, following the return of Magpies junior Jim Carroll to Victoria Park, who signed last month along with Ben Farrell.
Myers is coming off a third season in first grade with Tigers, including the 2016 grand final win over Leeton-Whitton.
“The decision was very hard to make, leaving my club after being there all these years,” Myers said.
“I love Tigers that’s for sure but when the opportunity came round I thought I might as well take it.
“Just for a bit of a change and hopefully I’ll be able to have a run in the midfield out there and that’d be something different for me and my footy.”
Myers said Lucas was also keen on a change. With a number of other mates leaving Tigers, they agreed to go together.
Lucas was in and out of first grade over the last two seasons and was runner-up in the club’s reserve grade best-and-fairest this year.
“They’re both good players,” Yates said.
“Sometimes it’s really beneficial for blokes to go to a new club and get an opportunity.”
Yates said Myers has shown he can bring drive off a backline and Lucas could be used forward or through the middle. But he’s let all his players know that 2018 is a new year with a mindset to match.
“Like I’ve said to everyone, it’s a clean slate at the start of the season, so every position’s available,” he said.
“They might not play where they’ve played at previous clubs. It’s whoever puts their best foot forward. Obviously where they’ve been playing, they know how to play, but blokes will get thrown around in trial games.
“If they want to change their roles, it gives them an opportunity to.”
That’s exactly what’s encouraged Myers.
“I want to have a big pre-season and have a red-hot crack at playing midfield,” he said.
“I’m happy playing in the back line but I just want to give it my best shot and hopefully have a good year.”
In addition, Yates’ cousin, former Tigers junior Fraser Yates, is also heading to TRYC.
The club has made no secret of its desire to add youth and speed as it seeks to return to premiership contention after bowing out at the first final this year.
