Former AFL player Majak Daw joins GFNL club Lara in major coup

Majak Daw has signed with a new local footy club for next season which will see him play in one of the state’s best competitions. And his new side won just three games last year.

Majak Daw in action for Heidelberg. Picture: Hamish Blair

Lara has made a massive signing under new coach Brett Henderson, landing former North Melbourne and Melbourne player Majak Daw.

Henderson had already signed his son, Williamstown VFL player Darby, this week.

Henderson said Daw’s connection with Lara recruiter Nathan Evans was critical in getting him over the line.

He said Daw’s signing was an exciting addition for the rebuilding club, who won just three games this season and has lost former playing co-coach and ex-AFL star Devon Smith.

“Majak has had a really solid relationship with Nathan Evans who has been doing some recruiting for us. He’s got a really great, positive relationship with Maj and he agreed verbally yesterday and signed this morning,” Henderson said.

“It is really exciting for us to be able to attract players who have shown they can play at the top level, so we are just looking forward to continuing to move forward, retaining our current playing list and adding talent around that.

“Spoke to Maj this morning and he is really excited so he will train with us prior to Christmas and then he will be at every session after Christmas so we can’t wait to see the big fella on the training track.”

Majak Daw in his new club colours.

Henderson said the signing of his son, Darby, and Daw will hopefully attract further recruits to the Cats, who have a win-loss record of 8-46 in the past three seasons.

“There is probably people out there, maybe some of them have been sitting on the fence (on joining us) and now they’ll think ‘I want to be at Lara because there is a really positive vibe’,” Henderson said.

“It took longer than I perhaps thought (to sign Darby) but in saying that he has some things to work through and now we have got some ex-AFL and ex-VFL talent.”

Daw, 33, is a pioneer for the African community after he became the first South Sudanese player to be drafted to an AFL club and played 54 games for North Melbourne.

He also spent two years on Melbourne’s list from 2021-22.

Since then he has starred at local level for North Heidelberg in 2023, where he booted 58 goals in 17 games, and kicked 22 goals in six senior games for Deer Park this season.

He kicked a big bag of 11 goals against Avondale Heights in round seven.

Originally published as Former AFL player Majak Daw joins GFNL club Lara in major coup