Country footy: Millewa and Sunraysia league clubs welcome new recruits

Millewa and Sunraysia league clubs have welcomed a swagger of recruits including former AFL and state league talents. Here’s who is playing where.

Clubs in Mildura and the surrounding region are already making moves as they look to get ahead in the premiership race.

A number of players have already found new homes for 2023.

Here are all of the moves announced so far in the Sunraysia and Millewa competitions.

Jarrod Brander, Wentworth

Arguably the biggest signing of the off-season so far. The former West Coast and GWS player returns to his home club, Wentworth, after being delisted by the Giants. Brander played 27 AFL games including five this year. A tall forward, who can play in other positions, he’s set to add to an already explosive forward line for Wentworth.

Jarrod Brander has moved to Wentworth after playing for GWS and West Coast in the AFL. Picture: AAP Image

Jarrad Clarke, Meringur

Clarke switches from the Sunraysia league to the Millewa league to coach Meringur next season. The Mildura reserves player played 12 games this year, kicking two goals. While his focus will be on coaching Meringur and getting the side its first win in two seasons, he is likely to play at some stage.

Lachlan Croke, South Mildura

The former Batemans Bay player, in the AFL Canberra competition, has signed with South Mildura. He’s a small forward who is a premiership winner with the Seahawks, when it won the third division title in 2018. He played junior football in the Wimmera Football League.

Dylan, Connor and Kane Darby, Gol Gol

The brothers move to Gol Gol after playing seniors and reserves for Imperials last season. Both Dylan and Connor played a handful of senior games last year while all three played reserves. The trio are sons of former Gol Gol player Gary Darby.

Anthony Heap, South Mildura

Heap comes to South Mildura after playing for Frankston YCW and Karingal in the Mornington Peninsula Football Netball League and Narre South in the Southern Football League. The new Bulldog has joined after moving to the region recently.

Reece Knights, Merbein

A midfielder who finds the ball with ease and kick a goal or two, Knights moves from Nangiloc to Merbein for next year. A premiership winner for Irymple and Nangiloc, he brings plenty of experience to Merbein.

Josh Koster, South Mildura

The son of AFL premiership player Kim, Josh will be playing for South Mildura next season. Josh has played for Sacred Heart in the past two years in Division 2 of the Adelaide Football League and featured in this year’s grand final loss to Broadview. The midfielder is a former SANFL player, playing for Glenelg and West Adelaide, making almost 40 appearances in the competition.

Josh Koster, playing for Glenelg, has signed for South Mildura. Picture: Tom Huntley

Korey Loechel, Merbein

The forward links up with Merbein after being one of the leading goalkickers in the Millewa Football League for the past two seasons. He won Nangiloc’s best-and-fairest in 2021 and 2022. He previously played in South Australia for Seaton and Mannum.

Ben Mitchell, Gol Gol

Mitchell moves to Gol Gol after playing three senior games for Imperials in the Sunraysia Football League this season. A former Merbein player, Mitchell has experience in the Millewa league, winning a best and fairest with Meringur.

Tyson Old, Red Cliffs

The defender and midfielder rejoins the club after playing in Melbourne for the past few years. He played for Coburg in the VFL before joining Hurstbridge in the Northern league. A handy talent who returns to a club looking to rise next year.

Hurstbridge’s Tyson Old is moving to Mildura next season. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Jeremy Rodi, Merbein

The onballer makes the move from Bendigo to Mildura, signing with Merbein after playing for Sandhurst. He made 16 appearances for the Dragons last year, being among the best in more than half of their games. A handy acquisition in the midfield for the Magpies, Rodi previously played for the Mildura Demons.

Former Mildura player Jeremy Rodi has joined Merbein. Picture: Glenn Milne

Luke Sicker, South Mildura

Sicker makes the move to South Mildura after playing one game for Imperials last year. Overall, he made more than 60 appearances for Imperials but will now switch to another team in the Sunraysia league. Sicker has had experience in multiple competitions, including in Queensland, where he kicked 100 goals in a season for Brothers Bulldogs in Bundaberg. He will play and coach the team next year.

Luke Sicker has moved to South Mildura. He kicked 100 goals in a season for Brothers Bulldogs in 2018. Picture: Brian Cassidy

Jake Simpson – Wentworth to Gol Gol

Simpson returns to the Millewa league after playing for Wentworth. Simpson has experience in the MFL, making more than 40 appearances for Meringur from 2016 to 2020.

Kyle Stevens, Merbein

Stevens moves back to Merbein for next year after playing for Birchip-Watchem last season and winning a premiership. A ball winner, he made 16 appearances and was among the best players in 12 games. Stevens rejoins after playing more than 30 games in Merbein’s seniors from 2017 to 2021.

Rourke Turner, Mildura

Turner has signed with Mildura after winning a premiership with South Broken Hill this year. A midfielder, who loves a contest, he has played previously for Merbein in Mildura and Sandhurst in Bendigo.

Lauchy Wade, Mildura

Wade comes back to the Demons after playing two seasons for Gol Gol. A key defender, Wade is back to join his family at the club. In 2019, at Mildura, he finished third in their best and fairest.

Chad Ytsma – Mitcham to South Mildura

The left foot winger moves to the Sunraysia league from Adelaide after playing for Mitcham in the Adelaide Football League in Division 4. Ytsma made more than 30 appearances for Mitcham in his career.