Sturt signs Zane Kirkwood and Kory Beard from Port Adelaide Magpies

STURT has signed two Port Adelaide Magpies stars as it aims for improvement next season.

STURT has signed two Port Adelaide Magpies stars as it aims for improvement next season.

The Double Blues today announced midfielder Zane Kirkwood and key defender Kory Beard would join the club, ending weeks of speculation about their futures.

Kirkwood, 22, and Beard, 23, were runner-up and third respectively in the Magpies' best and fairest this past season.

Both were hot property among SANFL clubs in the wake of the Magpies becoming a Power reserves side next year.

Kirkwood played 85 games for Port after making his debut in 2008.

Beard chalked up 67 games since his debut in 2009.

The Double Blues have also signed Port midfielder James Watt.

Watt, 23, has played 25 league games in two seasons.

"They're at the perfect age to play a lot of footy for us and are rock solid, really good players right now who can have an immediate impact," Double Blues coach Seamus Maloney said.

"We knew there would be players at Port Adelaide that might be looking for a home and we knew our list had AFL players so had to get guys in who could play straight away."