BFNL: All the signings of the 2023-24 off-season
The off-season is well underway for Ballarat league clubs who have unveiled a host of recruits for 2024. Here are all the moves in our signing tracker.
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The Ballarat off-season is a few months old with clubs making big moves ahead of next season.
Throughout the next several months, we’ll keep you updated on all the big moves across the competition.
Here’s a look at what’s happened so far.
BACCHUS MARSH
Dennis Armfield: The former Carlton livewire will coach the Cobras next year, taking over from Jason Williams who left to pursue an opportunity with Port Adelaide in the AFL. Armfield in recent years, after playing 145 games for Carlton, has been part of North Melbourne’s AFLW coaching staff and also coached Park Orchards in the Eastern league.
Andrejs Everitt: The former AFL tall is joining the Cobras as a playing assistant coach. Everitt, who played 131 AFL games for three clubs, joins after playing for Park Orchards the past couple of seasons.
Rye Penny: Penny comes to the Cobras after playing for the Calder Cannons and Gisborne last season. A rebounding defender who can play in the middle, Penny is also known for his vertical leap and his speed off the mark. He also played for Collingwood in the VFL last season and will be a handy recruit for Bacchus Marsh.
Josh Calvitto: Calvitto is back at Bacchus Marsh after playing at Dunnstown last season in the Central Highlands league. He kicked 19 goals for the Towners in 2023.
Sam Crea: The midfielder comes back to the Cobras after playing for Ballan last year in the Central Highlands. He played 14 games for the Cobras in 2022 in his only year at the club in his career.
Cohen LeSeur: Move to Bacchus Marsh from Gordon in the Central Highlands. He will play in the Ballarat league for the first time since 2016 when he was playing juniors at Darley.
BALLARAT
Lauchlan Dalgleish: The former Essendon player has signed with the Swans for next year after playing for Drysdale in the Bellarine league. The defender is a former Greater Western Victoria Rebel and a former VFL player with Footscray, playing in their 2016 premiership. A great signing for the Swans who fills a key position at the club.
Harry Butler: The new Swan joins from Carisbrook in the Maryborough Castlemaine league. Butler finished second in last seasons best and fairest at the Redbacks and is a former Greater Western Victoriam Rebel player.
Zak Rinaldi: The former Carisbrook player joins Ballarat after a superb season in the Maryborough Castlemaine league. He was the best and fairest in the competition, kicking 29 goals in 19 games and being among the best players in 13 matches.
James Carpenter: The new Swans recruit joins from Uni Blacks in the VAFA. Carpenter didn’t play much in 2023 with injury but is expected to make an impact this season. He originally comes from Tasmania.
Rhett Montgomerie: Will play for the Swans when he isn’t playing for Western Bulldogs in the VFL. A former Rookie listed player for Essendon, Montgomerie is a defender who is good in the air. He has played for Central Districts in the SANFL and is originally from Angaston in the Barossa Valley.
Connor Bade: Moves to the Swans after playing for Carisbrook the past couple of seasons in the Maryborough Castlemaine league. He previous played for Beaufort in the Central Highlands league.
DARLEY
Mikey Edwards: The versatile player joins the reigning premiers from Banyule in the Northern league. Capable of playing in the forward line and in the midfield he played 14 games last season for the club.
EAST POINT
Matt Romeril: Romeril returns to East Point after playing at Skipton in the Central Highlands league. Is capable of playing both in defence and in the midfield. Romeril played his junior football at the club and made his senior debut in 2018.
Joe Carmody: The former Ballarat Swans player and coach has joined East Point next year as coach. Carmody takes over from former Essendon player Jackson Merrett who coached the club for one year. Merrett will remain at the club as a player and as an assistant coach.
Micka Rotumah Onus: The former East Point best and fairest winner returns after playing for the Southern Mallee Giants last year and playing in their grand final loss in the Wimmera league. A fierce midfielder who knows how to win. He was a part of East Point’s premiership wins in 2018 and 2019.
LAKE WENDOUREE
Bailey McKimmie: A forward who has signed from Skipton in the Central Highlands. He kicked 34 goals in 15 games during the season and will add to the Lakers forward line for next year.
Jayden Wright: The former Ararat Eagles player has joined the Lakers after dominating the Mininera and District league for the past two years. The key position player has won the past two best and fairests in the competition, winning this year by 10 votes in a dominant count.
Will Clark: The midfielder moves to the Lakers after playing for Hay in the Golden Rivers league. He helped the team to win its first premiership in 28 years and is currently playing in Darwin for Waratah.
Bailey Cameron: The key position player joins Lake Wendouree next season after playing for Ocean Grove in the Bellarine league. Cameron used to also play for Traralgon in the Gippsland league.
MELTON
Troy Scoble: The new Melton coach takes over from Aaron Tymms who guided the team to the premiership in 2022. For the past few years he’s been an assistant coach at Geelong in the VFL and helped their AFL team win the premiership in 2022. Scoble is also a former coach at Riddells Creek and Melton South.
Jaycob and Lachlan Hickey: The duo return back to the Bloods after playing for Diggers Rest last year. Both were part of Melton’s premiership success in the competition in 2022.
Billy Sullivan: Sullivan moves to the Bloods after playing for Darley and Melton South in the past couple of years. He played 13 games for the Devils last season but was not involved in their premiership win.
MELTON SOUTH
Patrick Veszpremi: The former Sydney and Western Bulldogs player was the first major signing for Melton South of the off-season. The 34-year-old joins after playing for Woorinen in the Central Murray league in 2022 and in the Essendon District league for Pascoe Vale and Essendon Doutta Stars.
Travis Hodgson: It didn’t take long for the former Sunbury coach to land another gig in the Ballarat league. Hodgson left the Lions at the end of the season after five years and was quickly snapped up by Melton South to start their charge up the ladder. It will be the third Ballarat club he’s coached after also being at Bacchus Marsh.
Ryder Rousch: The key position player will play for Melton South after playing for Sunbury and making his senior debut this season. Roushc rejoins Hodgson at the club who also moved from Sunbury to coach the Panthers in the off-season.
Stuart Hobijn-Allen: The new Panthers recruit joins after playing for Airport West in the Essendon District league. Hobijn-Allen is a key position player who has won a premiership in country footy, winning with Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley league.
Jayden Welch: The former Broadford player/coach is now a Panther, joining Melton South for next year. Welch is a forward capable of kicking multiple goals.
Anthony Wilson: The former Adelaide Crows AFL player has joined the Panthers for next year. Wilson played 120 games in the SANFL for three clubs but never played an AFL game. The new recruit is a goal sneak who plays in the forward line. He also has plenty of pace.
NORTH BALLARAT
Brendan Howard: The former Rooster comes back to the club after playing for Beaufort in the Central Highlands league. He is a premiership player at both clubs, winning titles with the Roosters in 2013 and 2014 and with the Crows in 2018. He played eight games for the Crows last season.
Noah Cockerell: The 18-year-old will play his first game in Victoria this year after moving to Ballarat from Queensland. Cockerell has played 51 games for the Cairns Saints and made his debut at the age of 15. He is a key position player ready to make an impact for the grand finalists.
Dakin Morris: Morris joins North Ballarat after playing for Russells Creek in the Warrnambool District league last season. The new recruit has played near Ballarat before, playing for Bungaree in the Central Highlands league in 2021 and 2022. A forward capable of putting plenty of pressure on rivals.
Kayne Lewis: The midfielder joins North Ballarat from Hastings in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league. Lewis is a tough midfielder who has played interleague in the MPNFL before.
REDAN
Zac Mortlock: Mortlock joins the Lions after playing for Natte Bealiba in the Maryborough Castlemaine District league. The utility was the co-captain at the Swans this year and played in the clubs premiership success in 2019.
Brandon Green: Green returns to the club after playing Waubra in the Central Highlands for the past couple of seasons. He’s played 150 games for Redan already and will look to add to it next season.
Joe Black: Black comes to the club after moving to Ballarat earlier this year. He hasn’t played football for the past couple of seasons but played for De La Salle Old Collegians in the VAFA from 2015 to 2021. He is a defender who is sure to make an impact at the Lions.
Lachie Bond: Joins the Lions after playing for Newtown & Chilwell for the past couple of years. A dangerous forward who has also played for Carlton and Geelong in the VFL. Bond will play for the Lions when he isn’t playing for the Cats next year.
SEBASTOPOL
Tony Lockyer: The Burras have announced club legend Tony Lockyer will be coach next year. He takes over from co-coaches Michael Columbro and Luke Kiel who stepped down in the off-season. Both will remain at the club with Columbro staying as part of the coaching set-up and Kiel to continue playing.
Mitch Johnson: The new recruit heads to Sebastopol after playing for Glenthompson Dunkeld in the Mininera league for the past few seasons. He moves to Ballarat to join his partner, who is also at the club.
Reece McNally: Sebastopol has the ruckman it was after, signing Reece McNally to the club for this year. McNally joins from Pimpinio in the Horsham league but has played in the Sunraysia league recently as well.
SUNBURY
Matt White: The former Richmond and Port Adelaide midfielder is coming home, taking over as coach of the Sunbury Lions. It will be White’s first full-time coaching role but the 153-game AFL player has been involved with Coburg in the VFL as an assistant coach this year.
Dean Muir: The new recruit is joining his brother Joel at the club. Muir is a former Lions junior who played at East Keilor in the Essendon District league for the past few seasons. A versatile, quick and tough player.
Ben Eales: The Bendigo premiership player joins the Lions from Gisborne. Capable of playing in the ruck and in the forward line, Eales played 13 games in seniors last season and was part of the Bulldogs premiership success last year.
Jordan Tentonello: A utility capable of playing almost anywhere on the ground. Tentonello joins Sunbury from Rupertswood in the Essendon District league. He played 20 games for the club last season.
Ben Cameron: Will play for Sunbury this year while also playing for Coburg in the VFL. Last year, Cameron played for Kyneton in the Bendigo league and was involved in 10 matches with the club.
Seb Morris: Moves to Sunbury from Sandhurst in the Bendigo league. Last year he played in reserves during the season and will be looking to push into seniors this year for his new club.
Brock Landt: Comes back to Sunbury after playing for Rupertswood in the Essendon District Football Netball league for the past couple of seasons.
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