West Gippsland league’s new recruits for the 2022 season
The West Gippsland league has only just finished and big names are already being unleashed for 2022. Here are 17 new recruits to watch.
Bass Coast News
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The West Gippsland league has barely ended one season before bringing out the big guns for 2022 and hopefully a Covid free competition.
Giving you a sneak preview of the game of the future, from past AFL players to motivated young guns, here are 17 new recruits to watch.
Dale Gawley – Kilcunda Bass
The athletic ruck and forward will be a big addition to the Panther’s senior side.
After a stellar year with the Dandenong Stingray’s which saw his side reach the grand final in 2013, Gawley joined Casey in the VFL.
After a couple of years with the Scorpions, he went on to play for Frankston, Narre Warren and most recently Montrose.
Dan Brown – Korumburra Bena
Following in his brother’s footsteps, Brown has joined the Giants for 2022.
As well as playing footy at Dandenong Stingrays and Edithvale-Aspendale in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league, Brown’s experience playing state basketball — and height well over six feet — means he will be tough to beat on the field.
Connor Steel – Bunyip
A versatile player who can play in most positions, Steel has joined The Kennel for the 2022 season.
He has plenty of senior football experience previously playing at Berwick, Bairnsdale and Kilcunda Bass.
Steel is expected to provide more depth to the senior list and will likely dominate on the ground.
Paul Fermanis – Korumburra Bena
The highly skilled, strong footballer joined the club after moving to the area recently.
Fermanis was runner-up in the league best and fairest in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league and won two best and fairests at Oakleigh District.
He played with Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup, had VFL stints with Port Melbourne (2007) and Sandringham (2011), had one season at Noble Park and another at Healesville, and joined Somerville in 2019.
Fermanis has outstanding leadership qualities which will help lead the Giants young, motivated players.
Todd and Bailey Beck – Warragul Industrials
The Beck brothers have joined the Dusties after both coming through the NAB league system with Gippsland Power.
They were damaging players with Drouin in the Gippsland League.
Todd was co-captain in 2021 with Bailey set for a massive season in the progressive Dusties camp.
Now they’ve added another dimension to club’s list, dubbed as the next ‘weapons’.
Riley Rundell – Bunyip
Known as Rocket, the young gun played a huge role in Longwarry’s 2019 premiership.
He was awarded the best on ground medal that day and won an Essendon District Football League junior league best and fairest.
The four time Longwarry club best and fairest winner is one to watch next season.
Mitchell Nicholas – Dalyston
After having the 2021 season off, Nicholas is refreshed and ready for a huge season as a Magpie.
The new man in town will give the club enormous flexibility with his ability to play in the ruck, defence or forward.
Nathan Foote – Kilcunda Bass
The tough and hard at it midfielder was a senior best and fairest winner at Narre Warren.
Foote captained the Dandenong Stingrays to a TAC Cup grand final in 2013 and also won best and fairest that year.
He then went on to play five years in the VFL for Frankston and Casey.
Foote has proven that he has the capacity to break the lines and hit up targets with pinpoint skills.
He has the ability to read the game which will make a huge difference around the ground in 2022.
Jack Paravicini – Dalyston
Recruited from the Scoresby FC in the Eastern Football League, Paravicini has joined the Magpies for the 2022 season.
He has played in multiple positions over the past couple of years and is best known for his flexibility, height and athleticism.
Paravicini averages a goal a game in senior football and creates a hard match up for opposition clubs.
Dylan and Blake Cann – Bunyip
The Cann brothers have joined Bulldogs for the 2022 season.
Dylan is best known as a hard running dangerous wingman.
He started playing seniors for Nilma Darnum at a young age and also represented the EDFL in the under 18’s interleague squad twice.
Blake is a versatile midfielder who started playing seniors at a young age and has represented the EDFL for interleague in the Under 18s in 2018 and 2019.
He is a two-time best and fairest winner for Nilma Darnum and a junior runner-up best and fairest in the EDFL.
Kye Benson – Kilcunda Bass
The young gun arrives from Wonthaggi where he consistently impressed with his ability to provide run and carry off half back.
Benson’s agility and his ability of winning the ball saw him play a full year of senior footy for the Power at just 17.
He is expected to be a huge asset to the Panthers.
Brent Macaffer – Tooradin Dalmore
Macaffer has joined the Seagulls after leaving Northern Football League division 2 club Eltham.
The 33-year-old retired from AFL at the end of 2016 after playing 77 games and winning a premiership at Collingwood.
He is a skilled midfielder who has a natural ability for run-with roles against opposition on-ballers.
Curtis Murfett – Dalyston
Recently listed as one of the top 150 metro footballers in Melbourne, Murfett is a star recruit for the Magpies.
Coming from the St Pauls footy club in the Southern Football League, the midfielder is a multiple best and fairest winner, one in a premiership year.
Riley Scapin – Kilcunda Bass
Junior product Riley Scapin has signed on for the 2022 season with the Panthers.
Throughout the under 18s and his early years of senior football, Scapin’s athleticism dominated the field.
With the ability to play almost anywhere on the ground, he is destined for success in 2022.
Zane Martin – Tooradin Dalmore
Martin is a versatile footballer that can play forward or back.
He has grown up and played most of his football with Somerville but has joined the Seagulls for the 2022 season.
He is set to be one of the stars to watch.
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