EDFL: Liam Ogden crosses from Kyabram to Pascoe Vale for 2019

A country football champion, who featured in all 62 games of Kyabram’s famous winning run, has signed on with EDFL club Pascoe Vale.

Gun midfielder Liam Ogden has signed on with Pascoe Vale. Picture: Bruce Povey

COUNTRY football champion Liam Ogden has linked up with Pascoe Vale in a significant coup for the Essendon District Football League outfit.

Ogden was the only Kyabram player to feature in all 62 games of the Goulburn Valley club’s remarkable winning run and arrives at Raeburn Reserve with a decorated resume.

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The 26-year-old midfielder is a triple premiership player, two-time best and fairest winner, five-time GVFL interleague representative and has made the GVFL Team of the Year on six occasions.

Ogden will also be reunited with his brother Eamonn, who joined the Panthers this year and made 15 Premier Division appearances.

With Ben Ross retiring and Gavin Urquhart crossing to RDFL club Riddell, Ogden’s leadership in the middle of the ground will be crucial.

“We wanted a guy who had that experience of winning to be honest. That’s something we really wanted to bring into the group,” Pascoe Vale coach Digby Morrell said.

“Pascoe Vale I suppose has done well but hasn’t achieved that really winning culture. It’s something we’ve been mindful of bringing in.

“They haven’t played footy together for three or four years, so it’s a great opportunity for those guys — once Eamonn comes back off his knee — to get back and play some great footy together and hopefully in a successful side.”

The Panthers have also bolstered their midfield with the signings former Coburg VFL players Ben Allan, Errol McConnell and Josh Cauchi, while Daniel Johncock has crossed from Morrell’s former club, West Coburg.

Pascoe Vale and Aberfeldie lock horns this year. Picture: Jamie Morey

Daniel Archer, Dean Clare, Matthew Wallace and Julian Hemala have also signed on.

Lachie Hansen, Paul Bunn, Craig Anderson, Daniel Harris, Kyle Hardingham, Patrick Veszpremi and Shayne Allan are others to depart.

“I identified through some of their stats and watching them … that the midfield was definitely an area they needed to build their depth and build the range of players who went through there that bring a different skill set,” Morrell said.

“We’ve really concentrated on making sure we’ve got that right and we’re really confident of the position we sit in.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys who have played some good footy, but they haven’t played together, so that’s going to take a bit of time just building on that dynamic between each other.

“In terms of just sitting down and looking at our list as names, we’re really happy with it.”

Pascoe Vale has not contested finals in the top flight since 2016.