New Rams captain Mick Barnett applies pressure to his Cobram opponent.
The Deniliquin Rams have named their leadership group for the senior football side going into the 2025 season.
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And they will need to steady the ship early, with the club losing a number of key players in the off-season.
Ricky Gittens, Jack Tyndall, Bryce Scoullar, Lachie MacDonald and Brayden Hall have all been named as new signings for Tocumwal in 2025.
While this is quite a big loss for the club, they should be buoyed by the exciting young core they have at their disposal.
The strong core of talented footballers, all quite experienced for their age, will be captained and led by born and bred Ram, Mick Barnett.
Barnett returned to the club after a two-year stint with Thomson in Geelong, in the Geelong and District Football League.
He is an ever-reliable defender with the ability to play on key position and small forwards.
Barnett, know within the club as ‘Sugar’, is popular among his Rams club and teammates, and is always setting an example for others.
He displays fantastic leadership qualities, and has an ability to set an example as a senior player, important defender and now captain to give younger players a standard to uphold.
Supporting Barnett will be his three vice captains - Cable Fitzpatrick, Harry Hillier and Will Henderson.
Fitzpatrick has played well on the wing and across halfback for the Rams.
He was named the senior group’s most consistent for the 2024 season, and made the step-up to senior level footy seamlessly three years ago.
He is another the club is confident will set a strong example for the young group.
Henderson, a versatile midfield option who can play forward, had an interrupted 2024, only able to play a total of five games for the Rams senior side.
All of that considered though, he was still appointed a leader of the side which demonstrates his great leadership qualities.
Hillier is another true clubman.
He coached the fourths last year and puts his hand up to help out whenever he can.
Hillier is a strong bodied ruckman who can also play as a key position player, giving the Rams seniors a real sense of flexibility and expansiveness.
Gary Parsons, one of the senior coaches for 2025, said he was really excited by the leadership group and their qualities.
“It is just great to see young people at the club, from Deni, who are really good local people,” he said.
“Collectively, the group is one of the best we have had as far as leadership goes.”
The Rams will continue to build its core of young and strong players in 2025.
The leadership group will help in that aim, each of them raised within the club and watching their fathers play for the Rams.
Parsons said the group was selected for not only their footy skills, with the ‘quality of the person off the ground’ also a key deciding factor.
“Does he set an example for his teammates and the junior players at the club? Is he willing to help out around the club? Does he want to be at the club?”, were some of the criteria checked against.
Parsons said for each, it was a resounding ‘yes’.
“All four being, at least, second generation players is nice, and they are all really good people too.
“They will be even mentors for the group.
“We want blokes who want to be at the club and we want great people off the field.
“We know these boys are, and great mentors to the younger players.”
Cable Fitzpatrick chases down a loose football.
Harry Hillier addresses his fourths players last season.
Will Henderson tries to work a handpass to a teammate.
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