Every move from across Gippsland’s country footy clubs
The silly season is well underway across Gippsland footy with clubs signing new players in droves. See every move throughout the off-season here.
Country Footy
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The country footy off-season is well underway across Gippsland.
Clubs are already unveiling their fresh faces for next season and you can keep up with every move in our pre-season tracker below.
GIPPSLAND
LEONGATHA
Brok Davidson: Returns to the club after time away in Melbourne’s Southern league.
Ben Harding: The ball magnet joins from Old Melburnians in the VAFA where he is known for racking up plenty of the footy.
Patrick Ireland: The former Gippsland Power youngster joins the Parrots on the back of a 111-goal season for Buln Buln.
Connor Watson: A young player at the club looking to take his game to another level.
MORWELL
Isaac Abas: Returns to the club after playing at Morwell East for the last three seasons.
WARRAGUL
Jim Harrison: Described as a classy midfielder who is a premiership player at a previous club.
Tom Hillard: A player of capable of playing across multiple positions but primarily in the midfield.
Jordan Stewart: Joins from Pakenham in the Outer East league where he was a multiple best-and-fairest winner in defence.
Zac Stewart: A strong midfielder who joins from Pakenham. A player for the big moments.
EAST GIPPSLAND
BOISDALE BRIAGOLONG
Kade and Jake Renooy: The brothers will coach the club next year. Jake Rooney stays at the club and goes from assistant to coach. Kade moves to the club from Maffra after being the vice-captain for the past two season. He’s also been named in the Gippsland team of the year. Expect Kade to play and coach the club.
LAKES ENTRANCE
Darren Martin: Will coach the club next year. Martin is a premiership player and has also coached a team to an East Gippsland premiership before. He coached Paynesville to the premiership in 2013.
STRATFORD
Nathan Pollard: Comes to the club to coach the team for next year. He returns to the club after playing in 2018. Pollard played for Maffra in 2023 and coached Lindenow South in 2020 and 2021. Last year he played for Lindenow South in the Omeo District league.
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT
BUNYIP
Nick Smith: Is the new coach of the Bulldogs as the club returns to the Ellinbank competition. Smith last coached in 2023, guiding Albanvale to a grand final in the Western league. He previously coached Werribee Centrals in the Geelong and District Football League for four years from 2016 to 2019.
CATANI
Julian Suarez: Joins the club after going on a kicking spree last season in the West Gippsland reserves. The forward kicked 109 goals for Tooradin Dalmore in the reserves, easily winning the goalkicking medal for the league.
LONGWARRY
Brayden Chandler: Rejoins the Crows after living in Tasmania for the past few months. Chandler played four games for the Crows in 2023.
NEERIM SOUTH
Mason McGarrity: The goalkicker joins the Cats from Warragul Industrials in the West Gippsland league. McGarrity kicked 26 goals last season and is a former Gippsland Power junior.
Lachlan Bambridge: Another goalkicker who is coming back to the Cats. Bambridge joins after playing for the Warragul Industrials last season in the West Gippsland league. In 2022 he won a premiership with the Cats and finished second in the goalkicking in the competition in 2022 and 2023.
NYORA
Paul Delaroche: Joins from Cranbourne in the Southern league. Delaroche is a small, quick forward who know how to find an avenue to goal. He kicked 31 goals in seniors last season.
Corey Lucas: Joins from Koo Wee Rup in the West Gippsland league. The midfielder makes the rise after playing thirds in recent years. In 2022 he was the West Gippsland league best and fairest in that age group.
Dante Di Pietro: Another player from Koo Wee Rup. Di Pietro is a defender who has recently been playing thirds in the West Gippsland league.
Austin Craven: A defender who also joins from Koo Wee Rup. Craven played 12 games for the Demons last year in thirds in the West Gippsland league.
Riley Battams: Joins from Koo Wee Rup. He played only two games in reserves last year for the Demons but the year before he was part of the senior team. Battams is a competitive ruckman.
Daryl Swinburne: Is the new coach of Nyora for next season. In recent times he was the opposition reviewer for Rowville in the Eastern league but has held assistant coaching spots at multiple clubs.
TRAFALGAR
Shane Brewster: Is the new coach of the club after signing for the Bloods for next year. Brewster previously played and coached at Narre Warren and Warragul Industrials and has won multiple best and fairests at Narre Warren.
Danny Brewster: Joins his brother at the club and will now be a playing assistant. Last year he played for Moama in the Murray league and before that he kicked more than 100 goals in a season for Natte Bealiba in the Maryborough Castlemaine District league.
MID GIPPSLAND
HILL END
Coaching announcement: Adrian Burns has been announced as the club’s new coach with coaching and playing experience with Essendon and St Kilda.
MDU
Coaching announcement: Rhett Kelly, a premiership player with Leongatha, has been appointed as the senior coach.
MORWELL EAST
Kyle Hearn: The key position player has played for Boolarra in recent seasons where he was a regular senior player including 10 games in 2024.
TOORA
Jordan French: An athletic running defender who adds some clean skills.
Lachi Smart: A key position player known for his strong presence on the ground.
Sam Smart: The club says he will add “silky skills and incredible endurance” to the side.
NORTH GIPPSLAND
GORMANDALE
Jaxon Gardiner: A player who possesses incredible speed across the wing and half forward.
Riley Hughes: Standing at 190cm, he can play in the ruck or defence. Returns to footy after a couple of years away.
Jesse Siddle: A young player who has pace, skills and athleticism.
Coaching appointment: Shane Duncan has been appointed as the club’s new coach after crossing from Traralgon where he was a senior assistant.
SALE CITY
Mason Benson: A young and skilful player who has previously played for Sale.
WEST GIPPSLAND
KOO WEE RUP
Billy Rolfe: Joins from Langwarrin where he was a two-time premiership player.
NAR NAR GOON
Coaching announcement: Matt Shorey has been named as the club’s new senior coach, joining from Heatherton.
TOORADIN DALMORE
Andrew Dean: Returns to the club after a stint in the Mornington Peninsula league where he was a consistent goalkicker.
Jack Flannery: The key forward joins from Ferntree Gully where he was the senior captain.
Shane Savage: The ex-AFL player joins from Pines and will slot into the midfield.
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS
Coaching announcement: Bob McCallum has been named as the club’s new senior coach. He is considered a legend of Gippsland footy.
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