“It straightaway felt like home”: McCartney embraces Moyhu challenge

The chance at building success at a new home was too good of a lure for Lockey McCartney, who follows in his father’s footsteps as a first-time senior coach. The 28-year-old utility will partner with Darren Bell as co-coach of Moyhu in 2027, after Bell led the Hoppers on a rapid rise to the semi-finals this past season. After four seasons and two premierships with Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray, McCartney said the opportunity to help build something at Moyhu had sparked his interest. “I knew pretty early on that Moyhu was a place I wanted to be, it straightaway felt like home,” he said. “I saw a resemblance between Moyhu and the Rovers, just the way the coaching panel and executive committee operated, and how much they cared about the club. “We've still got a fair bit of work to do to be one of the best sides in the competition and we have every plan to do that. “It's dangerous when you look too far ahead, but it's definitely exciting and something I want to be a part of." McCartney said the decision to leave the Rovers was less about seeking a fresh start and more about pursuing a new challenge in football. “My cup at the Rovers was extremely full,” he said. “We'd had a large amount of success, and I take a lot of inspiration from what my coach at the Rovers Sam Murray has done playing and coaching. “I've got nothing but great things to say about the Rovers and Sam as a person, but it's given me fuel to help another club do that. “That was something that stuck with me and I wanted to explore it.” While this will be his first time coaching, McCartney will be far from unfamiliar with the process. His father Brendan, known for his hard-nosed and old school approach to footy, coached at the top level with the Western Bulldogs for 66 games and led Port Melbourne to a preliminary final appearance in the VFL this year. A timid journalist/soon to be disciple of Lockey asked if he would bring a similar approach to his own coaching. “To be honest, I'm not too sure; it's going to be interesting,” he said. “I've had the privilege of growing up with Dad and seeing how he operates at an extremely high level. “I've been around it enough to be comfortable with it and I'm going to need help from Belly and vice versa. “I'm excited about the partnership and I'm sure we'll bounce off each other really well." Bell has been the sole coach at Moyhu since 2023 and said McCartney had already helped him tenfold, sharing offseason responsibilities to further develop his young list. “We've been able to retain 95 per cent of the senior list and I think Lockey will not only help develop them further but be that on-field leader we've been craving for three years now,” he said. “We're so excited to get someone of Lockey's calibre on board at Moyhu and it's got the place buzzing already." Football and netball pre-season is set to get underway at many O&K clubs next week, including at Moyhu on 17 November.

“It straightaway felt like home”: McCartney embraces Moyhu challenge

Wangaratta Chronicle, Wednesday, 11 November, 2026

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