Coburg secures former first-round AFL Draft pick, re-signs key pair

Coburg continued its recruiting spree, locking in a former first-round draft pick for the 2021 VFL season, and re-signed two young stars.

Corey Ellis in action for Gold Coast in the NEAFL. Picture: Highflyer Images

Coburg’s impressive VFL recruiting campaign has continued with former Richmond and Gold Coast utility Corey Ellis signing on for 2021.

The 24-year-old arrives at Piranha Park after being delisted by the Suns, he managed 31 games after being taken at pick No.12 in 2014.

Ellis, a Keilor junior, adds further quality to the Lions’ midfield and can also play across half-back.

He’s the latest in a string of impressive signings, including delisted Sydney defender Jack Maibaum and former AFL-listed, Box Hill forward Nathan Mullenger-McHugh.

Richmond VFL pair Luke Nelson and Charlie Thompson, Ryan Sturgess, Tom McKenzie and Lochie Dickson have also jumped on board.

Corey Ellis at Gold Coast training. Picture: Jason O'Brien

The good news kept coming this week as star forward Sam Lowson and ball-magnet Marcus Lentini re-committed.

Coburg coach Andrew Sturgess said Ellis’ arrival was tribute to the club’s developing culture.

“We know from what he did do at Richmond that he is a really classy player, a high-level talent, and he’s a ripping fella as well,” he said.

“Once he became available we were pretty quick to move on him, we wanted to add a little outside speed and class, and we’re fortunate we chose our club.

“A lot of the credit has to go to (general manager) Seb (Spagnuolo) and our leadership group for creating an environment – where we haven’t won a lot of games – but it’s still an inviting place with a bright future.

“That’s not easy to do, when you’re not winning games and having success, because that’s what every player is attracted to. It speaks volumes.”

Nathan Mullenger-McHugh in action for Box Hill.

Mullenger-McHugh, a 197cm forward-ruck, played 11 matches for Box Hill in 2019, kicking eight goals, and will compliment talls Peter McEvoy and Adam Swierzbiolek.

“He’s spent the last couple of years at Box Hill and really enjoyed his time there but we were able to sell him a vision of his role in the team, which he really liked and bought into,” Sturgess said.

The re-signing of Lowson and Lentini is equally as important to Coburg’s ambitions.

Lowson is one of the most dangerous small forwards in the VFL, was a part of Woodville-West Torrens’ SANFL premiership this year and remains on AFL Draft radars.

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Lentini has topped the VFL disposal charts in last past two seasons, is a two-time Team of the Year member, and critical part of the Lions’ engineroom.

“There’s bringing people in that are high-profile but also keeping your high-profile players within your club and making sure they’re not picked off,” Sturgess said.

“It’s no secret that every year they get multiple calls (from rival clubs) and they haven’t experienced much success but for them to be optimistic is a tick for Seb and our leadership group.”

Coburg kicked off it’s membership drive on Wednesday and is hoping to repeat its record-breaking achievements of 2019 when more than 1000 members signed up.