Pigeons full forward and 2022 Doug Strang medallist Leigh Williams will take the reigns of the Yarrawonga seniors for the 2025 season.
The Yarrawonga Football Netball Club (YFNC) have made a huge statement regarding their 2025 season on the eve of the finals, announcing mercurial forward Leigh Williams as senior coach.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Following the news regarding 2023 Premiership Coach Steve Johnson flying the coop after the completion of the 2024 season, the YFNC has wanted to finalise its coaching group for the upcoming 2025 season and is delighted to announce Leigh Williams as its senior coach.
Williams joined the Pigeons in 2022, leaving his mark on the competition in his first year, taking out the Ovens and Murray Football League’s lead goalkicking award, the Doug Strang medal with 67 goals in just 11 matches, and finishing runner up to Pigeons captain Leigh Masters in the league best and fairest, the Morris Medal.
He arrived at JC Lowe Oval after carving his name into the record books of the Eastern Football League with home club Norwood, booting 583 goals over a 10 year period, was a four time winner of the EFL goalkicking award and played in a premiership at Norwood in 2014.
Yarrawonga Football Netball Club President Ross Mulquiney said the club was elated to have their next coach signed, especially before the pointy end of this season, and couldn’t think of a better man for the job.
“Leigh was drafted by the Melbourne Football Club in 2011 and has spent time also with Williamstown, where he was an assistant coach, and his home club Norwood, where he did an immense amount of work with the junior program,” Mr Mulquiney said.
Williams comes into the role with some coaching experience, as an assistant coach at VFL club Williamstown.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
“He has patrolled the goal square since 2022, winning the league goal kicking in his first year. Leigh has been a first-class addition to the club and community and will make a huge contribution the club as its coach.
“Further, Reid Clarke will continue as coach of the Reserves with Leigh Masters and Matthew O’Dwyer to continue their roles as coaches of the Thirds.
“The club could not be more excited to be filling all its roles from within the playing group. As a club we have been incredibly lucky with the quality of coaches over a significant duration: Craig, Seymour, Ednie, Barnes, Kennedy, Sexton, Whiley and Johnson to now Leigh Williams.
“Clearly, all at the club is fully occupied on the defending the 2023 premiership, the Reserves finals run and the A, B and C Grade finals assaults but having the next senior coach confirm is great springboard to the next season.”
Yarrawonga will play its last home game for the regular season this weekend against North Albury before travelling to Wangaratta to take on second placed Wangaratta Rovers who will feature heavily in the finals.
With the Pigeons finishing the season as minor premiers, they will have the first week of finals off before they gear up to play in the second semi final on Saturday, September 7 for the first spot in the 2024 Ovens and Murray Grand Final.
