Casterton Sandford has followed up the signing of Max Rooke to its coaching staff with two more key recruits.
The Cats have secured club best and fairest Michael Krieger’s return to the fold from Kalangadoo along with Coleraine Maroon Sam Tooley for 2025.
Football director Dean Munro said Tooley’s signing had been several years in the making, the club actively pursuing him since the talented backman took up employment with Elders’ Casterton branch.
“It’s been a few years in the making, since Sam arrived in town for work,” Munro said.
“I spoke to him earlyon, he was not ready to move then.
“I have seen him play a lot of junior footy in the old Coleraine Casterton Under 14 competition, up against Tynan Shannon and they were probably two of the been juniors I’d seen in my time, coaching footy.
“When I heard he was coming back here to work a couple of years ago, we have been in touch ever since and this year he was ready to make the change.
“He brings a bit of premiership experience with him from Coleraine, he was runner-up best and fairest over there this year and vice captain, so he comes with a great resume … a lot of good experience to bring to the playing group.”
Tooley said his decision to sign with the Cats was greatly influenced by his work in Casterton.
“I was just wanting to know the people around the local area better and support the people in the town where I work,” he said.
“I’m keen to get around everyone and make the most of it.”
Tooley said after watching “three or four” Casterton games, he was keen ready to slot into the team “wherever I’m needed”.
“On the ground, wherever I can slot in, probably the back line, anywhere around that centre-half-back will be good,” he said.
“But I think with that pretty dynamic backline, we’ll just play wherever we have to play, whatever is best for the team.
“And I’m probably a bit older, but if (the younger players) want any advice they can lean on me if they wish and I’ll probably lean on them a bit.
“I might be a bit older, but I definitely do not know everything, so we’ll all help each other along and I think with the acquisitions of Max Rooke, Michael Krieger and (coach Jarrod O’Brien), we have got a good mixture of youth and experience for good things to happen.”
After winning the Cats’ best and fairest in 2023, Krieger returned to his home club in the Mid South Eastern Football League for a season, but Munro said further discussions had him heading back over the border for 2025.
“There’s been a few clubs after him, but he really enjoyed his time here and when we said we were keen to get him back … we signed him up,” Munro said.
“Kriegs is a great man to have around the club, obviously that skill and even though he’s only a young fella, that experience he brings is great … we’re really looking forward to having him back.”
