Brothers Connor and Marcus Hargreaves will co-coach the senior Hoppers for season 2026.
While Rennie Football Netball Clubs 2025 season may be over, this hasn’t stopped the Hoppers from already locking in their football coaches for 2026.
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In recent weeks, the Hoppers announced the appointment of Connor and Marcus Hargreaves as senior co-coaches for season 2026.
Connor played his early footy for Yarrawonga, playing in a winning Reserves grand final and a losing seniors grand final, where he won best on ground as the youngest to ever do so and the first from a losing side.
The next year, he was picked up by Central Districts in the SANFL and then played at Katamatite, Strathmerton, which included a premiership and Billabong Crows, before landing at Rennie.
Connor, a self-employed masseur, has been very sports-driven his whole life, with a deep passion and love for football and is super excited to see what the next year brings.
Marcus also played his early years at the Yarrawonga Pigeons and debuted in the Seniors in 2015 and won the O&M Rising Star that year.
He played in two Pigeon Reserves flags but then focused on his financial planning career at Belmores Wealth, joining Rennie in 2025.
Rennie President Ben Cope said the club was excited to have the pair on board and looked forward to what they would bring to the club in season 2026.
Ben also acknowledged outgoing Senior coach Jarryd Fountain's contribution over the last two seasons as senior coach.
Ben said the club had never won a senior flag in a year ending in six, and that was the challenge he was setting the boys to complete the set.
Reserves
Jake Stevenson has been re-appointed as coach of the Reserves for 2026.
Jake Stevenson has been re-appointed as coach of the Reserves for 2026.
Jake wanted to return for one more year because of the people at the club.
“It’s a great place to be, and I believe the group we have has the ability to push back into finals next year," Jake said.
Under 17s
Nick Davis will be the coach of the Hoppers Under 17s for 2026.
Nick played his juniors at Mulwala, winning three Under 14s and 17s premierships.
He played two years with the Yarrawonga Pigeons before winning the 2001 premiership at Goorambat. He then returned to Mulwala before joining Rennie.
Whilst he has never coached football, Nick will draw on his expertise from his business, Muay Thai Kickboxing Gym.
For many years, he has been training amateur and professional fighters.
Nick put his hand up for the role as he loved the feel around the club, but felt something was missing with having no thirds this year.
Under 14s
Neal Hemphill will again coach the Hoppers Under 14 side for 2026.
If you’ve ever been around the Under 14s in the morning, you’ll know just how great Neal is not only as a coach, but as a person.
This is shown by the way not only the boys love him but the parents too.
Neal’s eyes are already set on the 2026 season.
“We have a great bunch of talented kids, they’re fantastic to work with and also very dedicated. l think we’ll have a very competitive team in 2026," he said.
Under 11s
Matt Wilson will coach the Under 11s Hoppers for 2026.
Matt has been around this group of players for three years now and has been coaching them for the last two.
He wants to give them consistency with their footy and to continue to help them grow and improve as players and young people.
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