GDFL 2023: Four Bell Post Hill greats depart, star lands at Corio as Ash Witney confirmed as new co-coach

Whitley medallist Dylan Witney, rebounder Caleb Bacely, goalkicker Nick Costello and ruckman Renn Lovitt have all been signed by Great Western in the Mininera and District Football League, leaving behind an incredible legacy at the Panthers.

This considerable loss has been compounded by star midfielder Matthew James’ surprise move to Corio, having played just two years in his most recent stint at Bell Post Hill after one season for Bannockburn in 2021.

It comes as the club welcomes back premiership player Ash Witney – the brother of Dylan – as co-coach.

Witney, who coached Belmont Lions for two years between 2017 and2019, will lead the Panthers alongside close mate Justin Tarr, with Witney set to take the reins as sole coach in 2025.

“We are really good mates, we have been mates for a long time about 15 years. We caught up for a coffee and it went from there and he said he was really interested,” Tarr said.

“Super keen and excited, he knew about the older guys leaving – obviously his brother is leaving as well.

“For him to want to jump on board and be excited for what is going to be a new era for the footy club is really exciting, not just for me but for the players as well.

“He’s got some senior coaching experience. It’s a tough gig coaching by yourself so to get a bit more support is going to be better off for the playing group as well.”

Tarr described the quartet as some of the best players to run out in the red and blue and wished them all the best at Great Western.

“Disappointing to lose those guys obviously but they have been not just great players for the footy club but great people,” Tarr said.

“Been there a long time and they are some of our greatest players so while it is disappointing that those guys are leaving, they go with our best wishes and we wish them all the best for their future.

“They leave a legacy behind of hard work and set a great example for the guys that are still there to follow.

PANTHERS CHAMPIONS

The experienced quartet, who are all over the age of 33, will go down as greats of the club given how integral they were to Bell Post Hill’s premiership success.

Bacely played in five Panthers premierships, Lovitt won four while Dylan Witney and Costello each had three flags to their name, and they all showed plenty in their final season for the Panthers as they bowed out in the preliminary final.

Witney produced the top-ranked performance of the year with 47 disposals and 243 Premier Data ranking points, Costello kicked 41 goals for the season, Bacely was ever-reliable down back as Lovitt performed strongly in the ruck.

Tarr said their departures highlight a changing of the guard for the club, with the Panthers bracing for retirements from these four champions over the past two years.

But Tarr is confident the Panthers will continue to contend, believing their young talents will stand up in the absence of the four veterans.

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“Moving forward we still have a good side and finals is still our expectation. It was always going to happen, these guys won so many premierships and were part of our golden era of at the footy club.

“I thought it might have happened a couple of years ago but really grateful that the guys stuck around for a couple more years when I was coach and set a great example for the new players and the younger guys we’ve got at the club.

“It’s definitely a new era and I think having those guys at the club can sometimes take that shine away from the younger boys and there’s going to be more opportunity for the younger guys and that’s exciting I think.”

Originally published as GDFL 2023: Four Bell Post Hill greats depart, star lands at Corio as Ash Witney confirmed as new co-coach