Dederang-Mt Beauty has made a significant off-season move by signing premiership ruckman Logan Hamilton, who joins the Bombers under newly appointed coach Josh Kable. This acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for the club as it aims to strengthen its position in the TDFL (Tumut and District Football League).
Hamilton, who played a pivotal role in Holbrook’s grand final victory over Osborne in 2022, brings a wealth of experience to the Bombers. He had previously made the move to Holbrook from Lavington and enjoyed a successful stint there. Kable, who played alongside Hamilton during the 2024 season at Holbrook, expressed his excitement about the signing, highlighting Hamilton’s physical presence and skill set.
Kable noted, “We are very excited to land Logan. I played alongside him out at Holbrook in 2024 and got to know him well. I rate him highly as a player; he is a big unit and will provide a strong ruck option for us.” He emphasized that Hamilton is not only formidable in the ruck but also excels when the ball is on the ground, stating, “He is powerfully built and has good skills, which is hard to come by when it comes to ruckmen.”
Hamilton’s versatility is another asset for the Bombers. Kable pointed out that Hamilton has experience as a key forward, which could provide the team with a strong marking target when he rotates out of the ruck. “Logan told me he feels his best position is in the ruck, but when he needs a rest, he will also be a great option in attack,” Kable explained.
Motivated to make an impact after a year off, Hamilton initially signed with North Albury for the current season but opted to take a break from football instead of playing at Bunton Park. Kable shared, “Logan was going to play O&M with North Albury this year. After deciding to take the year off, he is really hungry to play again.”
Kable reached out to Hamilton to gauge his interest, and after a meeting, the two quickly moved towards finalizing the signing. Hamilton has already participated in several training sessions with the Bombers but is currently spending time in New Zealand before Christmas. “He has already fitted in well with the group, and it’s nice to add a fresh face to the mix for next year,” Kable added.
In addition to Hamilton, the Bombers have secured another promising talent, Sam Bakes. The 20-year-old, who took the previous season off, impressed Kable during training after previously establishing himself as a senior regular with Tallangatta. Kable remarked, “Sam just appeared at training with a few of the other boys. He is super fit and trained at a really high level.”
The signing of Bakes was unexpected but welcomed, as Kable expressed, “We were fortunate that he just rocked up at training and quickly caught my attention. Getting Sam was a bit of a blessing.”
The off-season in the TDFL has been relatively quiet, with Kable’s appointment as coach and the recent arrival of Tom Johnson from Wodonga being the most notable signings. Kable, who finished runner-up in the Barton medal in 2021 and won the Brookers’ best and fairest last year, aims to lead Dederang-Mt Beauty to success.
Johnson, boasting over 100 senior matches of O&M experience with the Bulldogs, is expected to strengthen Barnawartha after their recent runner-up finish under coach Adam Mudra.
As the Bombers gear up for the upcoming season, the additions of Hamilton and Bakes signal a determined effort to enhance the team’s performance in the TDFL. With Kable at the helm, Dederang-Mt Beauty is poised for an exciting year ahead.
