Tallon Smith

Defending PMP Premiers Dubbo CYMS have found their replacement for outgoing head coach Shawn Townsend after appointing veteran forward Jarryn Powyer as captain-coach for the 2026 campaign.

Already skipper of the side since 2019, Powyer will take on the coaching duties for the second time next season as the Fishies search for back-to-back titles and a third in four years.

Speaking on his appointment to the role, Powyer told Battlers For Bush Footy that it was a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Townsend and others as the leader of the side.

“In the last decade and a half, there’s probably only been two coaches there, and they’ve left a lot behind,” he said.

“The club in general is very stable, so it’s a privilege to be a part of it.

“Coming off the Grand Final win last year, [it’s about] trying to keep that good energy going.

“We’ve all come up from being young boys basically, everyone’s got families now, and that was a big thing for Shaggy [Townsend], he bought into getting everyone’s families involved.

“The feeling around the club to top it off with the women [making the Grand Final] last year was amazing and hopefully we can just keep that feeling going, that’s what we’re chasing.”

With a handful of departures and an always improving competition around them, the challenge of becoming the first team to defend its title in the PMP era shapes as a difficult one for the Fishies next season.

When asked about what his goal is in his first season in charge, Powyer said that his sights are firmly set on trying to defend the club’s crown. 

“The big picture goal is always to win the competition, that’s honestly the only reason why I show up, I want to win the comp, but we understand you’ve got to focus on the short term for that,” he said. 

“The principles we’ve built around the club, before my time there, it was always ‘train hard, play hard, compete for your spot’.

“A couple of players have left and it is a bit of a shame, but at the same time I think that helps with preventing complacency. 

“I think sometimes when the same squad rolls through, you do become a little bit comfortable and complacent, so with people leaving it opens up opportunity.”

In terms of the opportunity created by vacancies in the First Grade side, the Fishies are well placed, with the club’s Under 18s side also securing the title in the Tom Nelson Premiership in 2025. 

With many of those players set to graduate to senior football in 2026, Powyer said that he is excited to see some of them make the jump to First Grade.

“We’ve got a great bunch of juniors, hopefully we have a few come through, a lot are going away, but there are a few that are potentially going to be playing first grade next year and that’s pretty exciting,” he said.

“I’ve got full confidence in the group that does come up, they’ve had two years under Luke Jenkins and Bernard Wilson, so they’re no stranger to hard work.

“The last three years, we’ve won a couple of competitions, and we’ve played alongside young men that were ballboys for us, that’s how long this core group’s been around.

“I think we [have lost] a couple of those, Ben Marlin, Jordo Reynolds, they’re moving on, but as I said it’s an opportunity and it is good to see them young kids come through and start playing [First Grade].”

As for his thoughts on the PMP competition after four seasons under the model, Powyer said the increased competition offered by the Western Premiership has been a highlight.

“I think the group in general really relished the challenge of having more consistency,” he said.

“In the Group 11 days there were probably a few more blowouts in games, and that’s not just from us, you’d see scores across the park, whereas the PMP I think last year seems to be getting better.

“I think the quality, everyone’s sort of on a level playing field almost, you watch some of the sides that are going around and it looks like it’s building.

“I think that was something that had to happen, there [were] always a lot of questions about Group 10 versus Group 11, and that sort of stuff, and now we’re all together and it’s just the Western comp, I think it’s just a massive benefit to footy in general.”

The new PMP season will kick off in April next year.