North Central: Sea Lake-Nandaly signs Andrew Collins before June 30 clearance deadline
The reigning North Central premier has gone in search of reinforcements to keep their season alive, convincing a former AFL player out of retirement.
Victoria
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A long injury list of 10-plus players has led to Sea Lake-Nandaly convincing former AFL player Andrew Collins to come out of retirement for the remainder of the North Central league season.
Collins hasn’t played since his original club Bridgewater bowed out in the Loddon Valley preliminary final last season to eventual premier Marong.
He will reunite with former Richmond teammate Adam Pattison at Sea Lake-Nandaly, which is in danger of losing its third successive match on Saturday against third-placed Boort.
The reigning premiers have dropped their last two games against the top-two placed teams Birchip-Watchem and Calder United.
The Tigers sit fourth on the ladder, two matches clear of Wedderburn.
“We’ve just got the biggest injury list at the moment,” Sea Lake-Nandaly co-coach Bryce Delemenico said.
“We’re battling to fill a team to be honest.
“I think we’ve got 11 out injured who would be in our starting 18.
“After the bye, we might get seven back and the rest will be a week-by-week type scenario.
“We just can’t take a trick.”
The injury list includes Thomas Cox, Jack Poulton, Brodie Adcock, Luke Martin, Joel Donnan and Austin Mertz.
Ruckman Connor Michael resumed at senior level last round, but Pattison missed due to unavailability.
Pattison and Collins played one season together at Richmond in 2009.
BROTHERLY LOVE AT CHARLTON
Charlton’s mid-season signing of former Bendigo midfielder Liam Collins has met with instant success.
Collins played for Queensland club Burleigh last year before recently joining Charlton where his brother Mitch is coach.
Liam booted two goals for Charlton in its 13-point win against St Arnaud on Saturday after previously playing for Kangaroo Flat in the Bendigo league.
Mitch is in his second season as Charlton coach and also joined the North Central club from Kangaroo Flat.
Charlton president Kris Dixon said the club was discussing its coaching plans for 2026 with a decision expected “in a few weeks”.
The June 30 clearance deadline passed on Monday with minimal activity compared to previous seasons.
Most of the player movement action had taken place with Port Adelaide draftee Jesse Palmer joining Central Highlands club Skipton.
Palmer played two matches for Old Xaverians last year after spending the previous three seasons at WAFL club Swan Districts.
North Central flag contender Calder United signed former SANFL key forward Dale Pearce a fortnight ago.
Former Corowa-Rutherglen duo Tyler Roos and Jeremy Clayton reunited at Kaniva-Leeor and played in the win against previously undefeated Noradjuha-Quantong on Saturday.
Kaniva-Leeor is one win behind fifth-placed Swifts with seven rounds remaining before the Horsham District finals.
Barnawartha’s recent addition Oscar Willding booted 10 goals on Saturday to help the Tigers bring Kiewa-Sandy Creek’s undefeated run to an end.
Willding started the season playing for Wodonga after a 2024 season severely interrupted with repeated concussions.
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Originally published as North Central: Sea Lake-Nandaly signs Andrew Collins before June 30 clearance deadline
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