2025 Goulburn Valley League leading goal kicker Nathan Wright, pictured during his appearance for the GVL against the Ovens and Murray League, has recommitted to the Saints for 2026.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
The re-signings just keep on coming for Benalla ahead of the 2026 season, with two guns from either end of the ground putting pen to paper and committing to the Saints for next season.
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2025 Goulburn Valley League leading goalkicker Nathan Wright will once again roam the forward 50 at Benalla Showgrounds next season, with the club announcing last week that the key forward will once again pull on the black, white and red.
In a scintillating first season at the club, Wright booted 64 goals from 17 games to lead the league, booting bags of eight on two occasions against Rochester and Tatura, as well as a season-high nine goal haul against Mooroopna.
His presence caught the eye of the selectors, too, with the Queensland native earning a call up to the GVL Interleague squad to face the Ovens and Murray League, booting a goal on a tough day for the purple and gold forwards, while also impressing those at VFL club Northern Bullants, where he was handed a debut against Port Melbourne and booted 2.2 from 10 disposals.
A constant threat around goal, the 22-year-old was named the Shepparton News GVL Player of the Month for June, and his decision to remain at the Saints for next season speaks volumes about the optimism around the direction Benalla is heading.
That enthusiasm surrounding the future has been buoyed by the re-signing of Nicholas Warnock, too, with the veteran defender enjoying a standout season down back for the Saints.
Nick Warnock has re-signed with Benalla in a big boost for the club.
Photo by
Bruce Povey
Having returned to Benalla after a few seasons away, first at Myrtleford in the Ovens and Murray League, before helping White Hills to a premiership last season in the Heathcote and District League, Warnock solidified the Saints defence, reading the play brilliantly and intercepting at will, leading the league in both intercept marks and disposals in 2025.
With prowess overhead, Warnock was also inside the top 10 league-wide for contested marks, with his consistency – named in the best in 11 of a possible 18 times – a key feature of his game.
Add to that an eighth GVL Interleague guernsey this season, and Warnock’s impact and importance to the Saints cannot be understated.
The pair join the likes of Mark Marriott, Ethan Maney, Cooper Gracie, Ryley Ely, Tyler McGregor and Huge Cornell in affirming their commitment to the club, while Williamstown VFL player Toby Triffett has also chosen to align with Benalla for 2026 as the club eyes a move up the ladder.
