Experienced Riverina League utility Dusty Rogers has joined Charles Sturt University as an assistant coach as the Bushpigs continue to bring in leadership in a bid to transform into a finals contender.
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Rogers, who has a connection to CSU coach Travis Cohalan from his years at Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes, arrives as a Collingullie-Glenfield Park premiership player (2018) and with an interest in coaching.
"I think it's a very big signing for us, and even for the Farrer League," Cohalan said.
"He's a pretty accomplished player now. He's a senior player in the Riverina and has played some good footy at some good clubs in Mango and with 'Gullie over the last few years.
"It's a big signing for our group and I know all the boys are pretty excited to have him on board. We're looking forward to his on-field prowess, but also his experience on and off the field."
Rogers, 29, has coached the under 17s at Collingullie-Glenfield Park, some junior teams in his time at MCUE, and had a season as an assistant coach at Hume League club Henty.
"I don't mind the coaching aspect and I think the age demographic at CSU is probably a clincher, it's a younger team and I enjoy working with younger guys," Rogers said.
Rogers, who has also represented the Riverina League, has a proven ability to play a variety of roles and says he's "happy to play anywhere".
In a team led last season by back-to-back best-and-fairest winner Lachy Moore and impressive ruckman Andrew Dickins, he'll bring another element.
Rogers' coaching responsibilities at the Bushpigs will focus on the midfield and that's where the Bushpigs think he might find a role.
"We think he'll be able to complement the midfield we've got with Moorey, Sam Barrow, Grant Daly, Max Findlay, Ben Browning and those sort of guys," Cohalan said.
"Adding another senior player and a bigger body could help us out. But he's obviously been playing centre-half-forward and swapping in the ruck as well so he's very versatile. He can play anywhere on the ground."
Rogers follows experienced ex-Lockhart forward Jeff Ladd in joining CSU in a coaching role, alongside incumbent assistant Wayde Archibald.
He's excited about the opportunity and the Bushpigs' potential, having been spotted at a CSU game late in the season at North Wagga.
"It should be pretty good... there's a couple of older, wiser heads now in amongst the young kids that I think they need," Rogers said.
"The game I watched, you could see they just lacked a bit of leadership and direction. Hopefully we can get them moving forward and hopefully play finals."
He said he's looking forward to the responsibility and in supporting Cohalan, as well as learning from the coach.
The Bushpigs finished sixth this year, three wins outside the five but well ahead of the teams below them, and expect to retain most of the promising outfit that took them to six wins.
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