South Adelaide snares former Carlton utility Frazer Dale

SOUTH Adelaide has signed ex-Carlton utility Frazer Dale, adding to a strong off-season recruiting campaign at Noarlunga.

SOUTH Adelaide has signed ex-Carlton utility Frazer Dale, adding to a strong off-season recruiting campaign at Noarlunga.

The Panthers beat Glenelg for Dale's signature just before Christmas and have also lured West Adelaide goal sneak Matthew Rankine.

Earlier in the pre-season, South recruited ex-Port Magpies players Luke Durdin and Matthew Rose, along with key position Victorian Lachlan Boyd.

Brent Macleod returns to the club after two season back in country Victoria.

Incoming Panthers coach Brad Gotch said he was so far happy with how pre-season was going at Noarlunga.

Gotch lured Dale to the club through a personal connection to his family.

The 187cm half forward played two senior matches for the Blues in 2012 and was in the top five endurance runners at the club.

"He can run which we see as a real asset given how big Noarlunga is,'' Gotch said.

"We see him as vital either on a wing or coming out of the backline and providing run."

South's only major out during the pre-season - Crows and Power listed players aside - was two-time Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke who was signed a three-year deal with Woodville-West Torrens.

Gotch stressed South, eighth with a 6-14 record in 2013, was coming from a long way back but believed it had the nucleus of a competitive squad this year.

Sturt, the Eagles and Glenelg have been the other strong pre-season movers.

Sturt added ex-Melbourne on-baller Rory Taggert just before Christmas, and had previously signed Port Adelaide Magpies trio Zane Kirkwood, Kory Beard and James Watt.

The Eagles have recruited Wundke, Central District premiership player James Boyd and fellow ex-Dog Jacob Templeton.

Glenelg, under new coach Nick Stephens, has signed a host of players fresh off AFL lists including Sam Lonergan (Essendon/Richmond) and Aaron Joseph (Carlton).