mmg.com.au

Plattfuss confirmed his return to Finley earlier this week, and said he will be lining up against the Deniliquin Rams in the Murray Football League’s opening clash on Good Friday.

After going down to Nathalia by 13 points in the Murray League decider last season, the young Cats’ forward line will greatly benefit from the towering key position player.

Plattfuss, a former assistant coach with Blighty, last played for Finley in 2007 and said he is looking forward to the challenge of a new competition.

‘‘I’m looking forward to heading back there. My fiance (Gemma Braybon) is playing netball for Finley this year and I decided to head there with her,’’ Plattfuss said.

‘‘It’s a bit of a step up [from the Picola League] so it should be good.

‘‘I hopefully will be playing all over the ground and not the ruck but we will have to wait and see.’’

Last year’s Finley coach Rob Daniel has stood aside, and Plattfuss and the rest of the Cats will play under country football legend Damian Sexton this season.

‘‘Damian was coaching last time I played for Finley, and we made the finals that year, so hopefully we can do it again. Hopefully we can go as good as last year if not better.’’

Plattfuss played most of his junior footy with the Redeyes before stints at Finley and Wangaratta.

Playing for Finley in 2007 he was runner-up best and fairest behind Sexton.

He returned to Blighty in 2010, playing 51 games and booting 71 goals in three seasons. He won the Redeyes’ best and fairest award in 2010 and was the leading goalkicker the following year.

Last year was another standout season for the former Murray Bashranger, finishing second in the club’s best and fairest.

The winner of Blighty’s best and fairest last year, onballer Danny Clarke, has also left Blighty and will play for Shepparton East this season.

Others to leave the Redeyes in search of greener pastures include Josh Peers and Ben Lucas (both Berrigan), and Beau Close, Saxon Fehring, David Chalmers and Justin Barker (all Deni Rams).