Club profile: Byron new team on the block
THE final edition of the AFL North Coast preview series is here.
We’ve been looking at men’s and women’s teams ahead of the 2023 season start and we conclude our series today with a club that will be making its debut in the AFL North Coast competition this Saturday.
BYRON MAGPIES
2022 Results – Mens: Did not play; Womens: Premiers (AFL Queensland QFA Womens Div 2.
SUMMER TRANSFERS
Men’s – In: Des Morgan (Port Macquarie), Jackson Coppin (Augusta Margaret River, WA), Ishtar Raju (Tweed Coolangatta), Gus Staley (Fish Creek, Vic), John Barrett (Power House, Vic). Out: Andrew Fyffe (Ballina), William McBride (Bridport, Tas), Charlie Goodlet (Old Ivanhoe Grammarians, Vic), Harrison Veale (Anglesea, Vic), Jonah Wentzel (University Blues, Vic), Zach Mitchell (Springwood, Qld), Bailey Rodgers (Parkside, Vic). Byron players returning after registering elsewhere for 2022: Jai Berry (Tweed Coast), Brad Burge (Tweed Coast), Thomas Iacono (Tweed Coast).
Women’s In: Isobel Bruce (Esperence, WA), Isabella Caylak (Darebin, Vic), Kate Roser (Pennant Hills), Paris Palazzo (Rostrevor Old Collegians, SA), Dennielle Scott (Burleigh, Qld), Shania Pittman (Lismore Swans), Ruby Wallen (Sherwood Districts, Qld). Out: Nil.
THE AFL North Coast family officially grows by one this weekend when the Byron Magpies play their first matches.
Last year the Magpies didn’t field any men’s teams in the AFL Queensland competition as one of the requirements to play up north is for clubs to have both a senior and reserves team in men’s competitions.
The Magpies still don’t have enough players to fill two men’s teams but are taking their first steps to reforming by playing in our competition this year.
Starting again is always difficult but having a former North Melbourne captain in Andrew Swallow as your team’s coach is a good way to begin.
The women’s team won the QFA Division 2 title last year, overcoming mainly other Northern Rivers rivals to get there.
