EDFL 2019: Essendon Doutta Stars sign former VFL forward Alex Boyse
Essendon Doutta Stars coach Kyle Hardingham gives his thoughts on what Alex Boyse, who has previously attracted AFL interest, will bring to the EDFL club this season.
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ATHLETIC forward Alex Boyse will add class to Essendon Doutta Stars’ attacking half this season after putting pen to paper with his junior club.
Boyse has given up on his dream of reaching the elite level after booting 46 from 30 games for Essendon’s VFL side over the past two years and attracting AFL interest.
He provides an enormous boost to the Essendon District Football League outfit after the Stars narrowly avoided relegation from Premier Division last year.
“Players like that don’t come along too often,” Stars coach Kyle Hardingham said.
“The fact he’s still quite young, too, and he’s had the experience of VFL footy, I think he’s really going to be able to come back and not only put his hand up to show why he was playing VFL and why clubs were interested in him the AFL, but to teach our young forward line as well.
“He’s learnt a lot and what he can teach the group now is really going to become beneficial.”
The 25-year-old experienced a rapid rise after playing nine reserves games for VAFA club St Bernard’s in 2014 before producing a breakout season.
Boyse booted 43 majors in 19 games in 2015, featuring in St Bernard’s premiership and winning a spot on Essendon’s VFL list.
While his ability to cause myriad headaches for opposition sides inside the forward 50m arc is well known, Hardingham said his star recruit was capable of roaming other areas of the ground.
The 190cm Boyse was regarded as a third tall at VFL level but is likely to attract the best defender at EDFL level.
“I think he’s going to be someone who can provide us with that key forward position, but there’s also an opportunity to see him in other positions as well,” Hardingham said.
“He’s got that athleticism to be able to create that flexibility.”
The Stars secured a return to Premier Division when they claimed the 2015 Division 1 flag and have finished fifth, seventh and ninth the past three seasons.
“I was really happy to hear from him (Boyse) that not only does he want to come back and play for us, but he wants to see the club become successful again, and he wants to be a part of doing that,” Hardingham said.
Essendon Doutta Stars have also gained defender Noah Khan from Whitehorse Pioneers.
“He’s young and his raw, so the fact I’ll be training and playing alongside him, I feel I can really help him,” Hardingham said.
“He’s going to really slot into the team nicely.”
The club has lost no senior players of note and has “pretty much” finalised its list.
The Stars will start their campaign against promoted Airport West on April 6.
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