Steven Motlop signs with North Warrnambool in Hampden league

One country footy club will have a third ex-AFL player on its list in season 2024 after the reigning VFL Coach of the Year signed on in a double swoop. Here’s what we know.

Steven Motlop was instrumental in PINT's win against Waratah in Round 12 of the 2023-24 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

North Warrnambool’s stunning off-season has gathered more momentum.

In a massive shock on Thursday night, the club confirmed the signing of former AFL midfielder Michael Barlow.

Barlow has previously played for the Eagles back in 2019.

It’s not clear how many games last year’s VFL Coach of the Year will play for the Nathan Vardy coached Hampden league club given his role with North Melbourne in the AFL.

He becomes the third ex-AFL player on the club’s list alongside Vardy and Steven Motlop.

“Michael played in the 2019 Grand Final with the Eagles and we are excited to welcome his partner Riley and daughter Lonni to the Nest as well,” the club said in a social media post.

Barlow’s arrival came in a double signing announcement with former junior Brad Gedye also returning to the Nest.

It’s a move that will see him play alongside his cousin Jackson Grundy.

Last year, Gedye played in the Warrnambool and District league for Panmure and is recently in the Northern Territory playing for PINT.

EARLIER

There will be another ex-AFL player joining the Hampden league after North Warrnambool announced the signing of former Geelong and Port Adelaide player Steven Motlop.

Last year’s grand finalists have added the small forward who kicked 229 goals in 217 games in the AFL.

Motlop, since retiring from the AFL in 2022, has been playing in the Northern Territory Football League for the Wanderers and PINT and has also played football in north Queensland for the Cairns City Lions.

Now, he’s set to play for the Eagles, thanks another former Cat and best friend who is connected to the club.

Former Port Adelaide player Steven Motlop celebrates a goal during his career. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“He’s been close friends with Nathan (Vardy, the coach) since the Geelong AFL days and regularly kept in touch with him,” North Warrnambool vice-president Shane Grundy said.

“And we’ve been able to sign him up this year.”

North Warrnambool has been one of the best teams the past two years, making both grand finals, but losing to Koroit (2022) and South Warrnambool (2023).

The team is still chasing their first premiership in the competition since joining the Hampden league in 1997.

Grundy said Motlop’s signing could change the club’s barren senior run with the Eagles retaining most of the squad from last year.

“It’s a major coup for the club and the league (getting Motlop),” he said.

“The league has been strong the past couple of years but we can only hope and dream (of premiership success with him).”