Braydon Preuss linked with a return to local footy

An ex-AFL man mountain appears to be the most in-demand name in the game as the local footy trading season swings into overdrive. Here are all the latest whispers from around the leagues.

Braydon Preuss is a wanted man. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The local footy silly season is here.

Big names from the AFL and local guns are rumoured to be available across the state and word is travelling fast about where they’ll play their footy next season.

The rumour mill is already in full motion and will only continue to gather pace in the coming weeks and months.

Now without further ado, keep up to date with everything in Leader Local Footy’s rumour mill.

LOCAL FOOTY’S MOST WANTED?

Recently delisted AFL big man Braydon Preuss might just be the most wanted player in local footy circles. After leaving the Giants, he’s still hopeful of another opportunity but one is yet to present itself. Rumours had swirled in recent months he would take over as senior coach at a country club but that position has now been filled. Where will the big fella end up?

OUCH …

We’re told a captain from one local club discovered he was no longer the captain of his side via Facebook this off-season. It wasn’t through a message or a call on Facebook, no, he was broken the news by the announcement of a new captain on the club’s public page. Ouch.

NUMBER WHAT?

A big-name recruit could be in for a shock when his new club informs him of the number he’ll wear in 2025. It seems there are no low numbers available and the new man looks like carrying a number that’s a lot higher than his age.

TWO FOR ONE SPECIAL?

Local footy big men get paid a handsome sum, sometimes they can probably name their own price given they don’t grow on trees. Well for one of local footy’s powerhouse clubs it sounds like they’re about to bolster their stocks with a huge double ex-AFL big men signing. One might just win a league goalkicking award...

AARTS ON THE MOVE?

Many are wondering where former Richmond livewire Jake Aarts will play next season. He won a premiership and a league medal during two outstanding seasons at Dromana, but the jungle drums are beating louder that he is on the move...possibly to an Eastern league club. Already, Dromana key forward Jordy Andrews has signed with Berwick. And there is scuttlebutt suggesting another Dromana star, Sam Fowler, may also be on the move. Stay tuned.

Jake Aarts. Picture: Valeriu Campan

BIG FISH ON THE HOOK? 

Word on the street is an Eastern league Premier Division captain is on his way to a lower-grade club in what would be one of the signings of the off-season. The player’s club of choice is also touted to unveil further recruits from higher-division clubs as it readies for its assault on 2025. It missed the finals this season and could be a big improver next year. Watch this space.

BLING = CHA CHING

A star midfielder who topped the league medal count is having a look around this off-season. His year gone was a career-best year but he is making it known he still has plenty to offer to any interested clubs. Those clubs will have to ramp up their sponsorship pitches though, he’s asking for $1400 a game.

OFF THE STREET

Clubs often talk about recruits coming in off the street. How about off the street – assisted by a rival club? One club tried to recruit a player from the same competition. The player said he was moving on but was heading to a different league due to travel. The initially keen club said ‘no worries, mind if we pass your number on to someone we know?’ The player was happy to be passed on and he’s locked away at this new club.

YOUNG GUN POACHED

Recruiting can be a dirty game. We hear there’s a fair bit of angst between two two suburban clubs after one, a premiership-winning club with loads of depth, poached its rival’s under-19s best and fairest winner.

Brett Deledio. Picture. Phil Hillyard

LIDS ON OR OFF?

There was growing speculation former two-time All Australian Brett Deledio would lace up again in 2025. But the club he was rumoured to be joining, a Southern league Division 1 club, denied having any contact with the 37-year-old. Deledio played two games at Tongala, the home of wunderkind Harley Reid, this season.

YOU WANT WHAT?

We’ve heard about sign-on cash bonuses. We’ve heard about sign-on back decks. At some clubs, we’ve even heard about sign-on new boats. But what we hadn’t heard before was a reformer Pilates machine as a sign on bonus. One boom recruit recently knocked back a cash sign on and asked his new club to purchase him a reformer Pilates machine instead. He told the club it was a long-term investment as his wife pays $35 for Pilates twice a week and would happily do free YouTube classes provided she had her own machine. The club obliged, paid top dollar for a new machine and its new recruit – and his wife – are now happy additions.

THAT’S A LOT OF TRIPS TO THE SCHOOL CANTEEN

One club divided opinions of its rivals this off-season when it allegedly offered a 17-year-old $600 a game. Some ruthless coaches backed it and said clubs needed to do everything they could to win in the modern-day game while others said leagues ought to make a rule restricting such offers.

UNMATCHED

It’s understood a local footy club president went 47-0 arm wrestling at an end of season celebration. His biggest challenger was a quiet under-19 who the president used dirty tactics to get the win over. The president may not have gotten a kick during the last game of the year but he was certainly BOG afterwards.

SA RUMOUR MILL CONTAINS MORE BIG NAMES

The Rumour Mill is not just constrained to Victorian borders. Over in South Australia the local footy Rumour Mill is also in overdrive featuring ex-AFL names such as Shane Edwards, Troy Menzel, Tex Wanganeen, Jarryd Lyons and Riley Bonner. Check it out.