Fergus Greene signs on for Sandhurst for next season in Bendigo league

A country club has made one of the biggest signings in the off-season, recruiting a recently delisted AFL player among a quartet of signings

Fergus Greene is returning to where it all started.

In a major coup to the Bendigo league the recently delisted Hawthorn player has opted to play for his junior club, Sandhurst, next year.

Greene played 11 games for the Hawks this season, kicking 15 goals, to add to his five games he played for the Western Bulldogs from 2018 to 2020.

He had been expected to return the VFL but Greene instead made a decision to return to the club made famous by his mum and dad.

“He had offers from all over the country and by no means are we top of those,” Sandhurst president Mark O’Farrell said.

“He just wanted to commit to come back and play in front of his family for one year.”

O’Farrell revealed Greene has only signed for one year to leave the door open to pursue other opportunities down the track.

“We’d love him to stay for a while, but he’s committed for a year because he’s keen to get involved in some development roles down the track,” he said.

Greene comes to the competition at the same time as other leading forwards have left with Joel Brett (Golden Square) and Lachlan Sharp (Strathfieldsaye) moving to different leagues.

Brett and Sharp had combined for the past four goalkicking medals in the league.

“We’ve only got to look at his games this year for Hawthorn, he’s been able to match it with a lot of the backman down there,” O’Farrell said.

“While he’ll get similar contests up here they are probably not going to be as big to play on.

“It gives him a great opportunity to capitalise on his goalkicking and he’s a good kick.

“If he’s a gets enough opportunity he’ll be a good show (to win).”

Matthew Campbell has joined Sandhurst from North Hobart in the Tasmanian State League. Picture: Linda Higginson

Greene is one of four recruits the club has made in the past 24 hours.

Joining him is Matthew Campbell and Will Wallace from North Hobart and Mount Pleasant respectively with Lachlan Tardrew back full time after ending his VFL commitments with Collingwood.

“With Hamish Hosking leaving we needed to get another tall key position player and perhaps a ruck option,” O’Farrell said.

“We think Will will slot into the ruck role and Matthew will play a key position role as well.

“The coaches have been working really hard in the background, it’s a credit to them to get four quality blokes over the line.

Pre-season training for the club will start next week.