West Gippsland Football League: Campbell Brown, Daniel Pearce, Steve Wright, Adam Oxley

Get ready for the start West Gippsland Football League with a swag of former AFL players — including one heavy hitter — set to star.

Former AFL Bulldog Daniel Pearce has joined Phillip Island. Pic: Michael Klein

Phillip Island’s position as West Gippsland Football Netball League’s pacemaker has been strengthened after signing former Western Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Pearce.

The 28-year-old, who made six appearances for the Doggies, will join fellow former AFL player Cameron Pedersen in the Island side, enhancing their bid for a third successive premiership.

“We’ve been chasing him for 18 months,’’ Phillip Island president Chris Ross said of Pearce, who for the past two seasons has played with Templestowe, where he was captain.

“He’s moved here now — he’s built a house on the Island — so he’s agreed to sign on this year.’’

Phillip Island, though, can expect strong challenges from rival clubs in 2021.

Once COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 season, WGFNL clubs focused their attention on recruiting for 2021.

And the big names have flocked to the open arms of WGFNL sides.

Campbell Brown will play with Kilcunda-Bass.

Hawthorn premiership player Campbell Brown has signed with Kilcunda-Bass as assistant playing coach.

Club president Shea Eden said the tough defender was the biggest signing in the club’s history.

Brown has quickly earned the respect of his new teammates.

“His commitment over pre-season has been unquestionable,’’ Eden said.

“He’s making the trip down every week.

“To preach commitment you’ve got to show it and he’s certainly done that.

“We’re not expecting him to be running lengths of the field but he’ll hold down a spot up forward, just with his footy smarts and experience.’’

Killy-Bass will be coached by former Sydney Swans star Steve Wright, who lives only 20 minutes away in Phillip Island.

Bunyip, after missing the finals on percentage last year, has made key appointments, with former VFL assistant Tim McGibney its new senior coach and Narre Warren premiership players Dylan and Ryan Quirk key recruits.

Anthony Bruhn (left) of Footscray handballs during a VFL match.

Last year’s wooden spoon side Warragul Industrials have secured star forward Anthony Bruhn, a three-time premiership player with Mornington Peninsula powerhouse Frankston YCW and a Footscray VFL player.

AFL Gippsland football operations manager Nic Fogarty said WGFNL clubs were “busting’’ to get going again after a season off.

“You’re going to find some clubs are going to come out and be in a better position now than what they were this time last year,’’ he said.

“Some clubs have been really lucky in that they’ve got sponsors that have committed through last year and they’ve had 12 months to be able to put some better structures in place as far as their coaching and recruiting players go.

“There are a couple of clubs that were in the bottom four teams in the West Gippy (league) that have recruited really well in the off season and they’ve been chomping at the bit to get on the paddock.’’

While most clubs report they have taken a financial hit through COVID-19, mainly through sponsors dropping off, Phillip Island has kept its “head above water’’, according to Ross.

“It’s been real tough,’’ he said.

“We’ve been lucky in that we’ve had a handful of our sponsors that have been happy to still put the money in.

“Other than that we’ve applied for grants and we’ve won a few grants to help us out.

“I think all clubs are in a similar boat, we’ve kept our head above water but as far as actually making a profit I don’t think there are too many clubs who can say they’ve made a decent profit.’’

Korumburra-Bena will unveil champion forward Luke James this season after his much anticipated return to the Giants was delayed because of COVID-19.

Korumburra president Peter Hislop said while his club had retained all players, some volunteers had stepped away.

“We will have less (volunteer) numbers than last year,’’ he said.

“I don’t think it’s going to be the same next season straight away.’’

Adam Oxley celebrates a goal for Collingwood during the 2016 AFL Anzac Day match against Essendon.

And in a recruiting coup, Tooradin-Dalmore has secured Collingwood 34-game wingman Adam Oxley.

Oxley found his way to Tooradin-Dalmore through his friend and former teammate Piva Wright, who joined the Seagulls last year.

“He fitted in really well with the boys,’’ Seagulls vice-president Derek Genoni said.

There’s high excitement at Inverloch-Kongwak, with AFL former champions Jarryd Roughead and Bob Murphy to pull on the Eagles jumper on Saturday, April 17, against Tooradin-Dalmore at Inverloch Recreation Reserve.

Bob Murphy looks to give off by hand in front of Rhys Palmer. Pic: Michael Klein

Fogarty said other clubs had lost volunteers, too.

“One of the biggest things we hear is ‘volunteer fatigue’,’’ he said.

“Despite not having a season (in 2020) volunteers are fatigued from the start again, stop again season…are we going to play? You know…helping out at training for no season…there are volunteers who have thought it’s so much easier not being involved.’’

Salary and points caps next year for West Gippy: 90k and player points vary from 38 (previous premiers) to 48 for last.

West Gippsland FNL ladder 2019: Phillip Island, Cora Lynn, Tooradin-Dalmore, Inverloch-Kongwak, Koo Wee Rup, Bunyip, Nar Nar Goon, Garfield, Korumburra-Bena, Kilcunda Bass, Dalyston, Warragul Industrials.

West Gippy key recruits in 2021:

*Daniel Pearce (ex-Western Bulldogs) to Phillip Island.

*Campbell Brown (ex-Hawthorn, Gold Coast) to Kilcunda-Bass

*Luke James (Murrumbena) back to Korumburra-Bena.

*Anthony Bruhn (Footscray VFL and Frankston YCW) to Warragul Industrials.

*Adam Oxley (Collingwood) to Tooradin-Dalmore.

ROUND 1:

Saturday, April 3: Phillip Island v Kilcunda Bass, Inverloch-Kongwak v Cora Lynn.

Saturday, April 10: Tooradin-Dalmore v Koo Wee Rup, Bunyip v Dalyston, Nar Nar Goon v Korumburra-Bena, Garfield v Warragul Industrials (night game).