Hadfield welcomes new recruits and confirms re-signings

An EDFL club has made early recruiting moves for next season with the unveiling of three new faces among a stack of re-signings.

While its season might have one game left to run, Hadfield is already unveiling its plan for next season.

The EDFL club has unveiled three fresh faces and a host of re-signings in the past few weeks as the end of the year draws closer.

The moves have come without confirmation of a new coach with Brett Pitts set to stand down and move into a director of coaching role.

Hadfield’s season has been seriously hampered by injury with a number of key players missing large parts of the year.

Among those to come across has been key forward and ruckman Jake Wheeldon who has spent time with Lalor in the Northern league this season.

In the nine games he has played, Wheeldon has been named in the best six times.

“He comes from a basketball background and had a limited pre season in 2023 but has shown some great glimpses,” the club said.

“He can’t wait to fully invest himself in our pre season program and we think he has some untapped natural ability.

“Jake was recommended to the club through a mutual friend and has loved what he has seen on and off the field.”

An existing connection helped land Jake Wheeldon.

Joining Wheeldon will be Chris Inkson who is set to return to the footy field after two years away.

Previously he has played with West Preston where he captained its under-19 team.

Hadfield describe him as an “athletic beast who plays off the half back line with blistering speed”.

Chris Inkson returns after a couple of years off footy.

Zac Gillard has joined the club from South Mildura.

“We know Chris will bring an elite mindset and professionalism to the group as well as his obvious football ability,” the club said on social media.

Meanwhile, Zac Gillard was the most recent player to be unveiled this week.

Joining from South Mildura, he is expected to lock down a spot in defence.

“His leadership and calm nature has been lauded by those who recommended him to the club and being a school teacher he has a great capacity to educated players around him,” Hadfield said.

Ali Elmaaraoui, Donovan Pell, Jack Wallace, Jason Choueiri, Julian Zaccari, Steve Golding and Will Graf are among the confirmed re-signings.