EDFL 2021: Essendon Doutta Stars sign Gavin Urquhart
EDFL Premier Division outfit Essendon Doutta Stars have landed a major signing, but there have also been some big departures.
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Former North Melbourne defender Gavin Urquhart will return to the Essendon District Football League this season.
Urquhart, who played 41 games for the Kangaroos over five years at the elite level, has put pen to paper with Premier Division outfit Essendon Doutta Stars in a recruiting coup.
Since exiting the AFL ranks at the end of the 2012 campaign, Urquhart has taken the field for Airport West (2014) and Pascoe Vale (2015-2018) in the top flight, earning Team-of-the-Year nods at both clubs.
The 32-year-old spent 2019 with Riddell in the Riddell District League and was also named in the Team of the Year.
Urquhart has built a reputation as a line-breaker across the half-back flank and also boasts a prodigious kick.
He joined Essendon’s VFLW panel last month as a forwards coach as the club pushes for an AFLW licence next year.
Stars football manager Graeme Lewis said the marquee signing would add much-needed experience.
“Because we’ve got so many young kids, we need some leadership on the field,” Lewis said.
“It helps that he can kick the footy 60m with both feet … but some leadership and direction was the key behind it.
“And he’s a good footballer.
“He’s extremely fit too, having been involved down at Essendon, and he’s in that environment.
“He’s a good bloke and the sort of guy you want around your footy club.”
Lewis said the Stars would use Urquhart where he was most damaging – across half-back – but added the No.21 pick in the 2006 draft was capable of causing headaches for opposition sides in the midfield and up forward.
“Hopefully we get some good value out of him and he’ll just help us build our young blokes. We’ve got some really good under-18s coming up,” Lewis said.
The Stars remain in discussions with “two or three players” as they put the finishing touches on their senior squad.
“We’ve obviously lost a few, but we’ve picked up a few as well,” Lewis said.
“Usual stuff – you probably turnover 10 per cent each season.”
Former coach Kyle Hardingham has moved to live in Western Australia, while ex-skipper Jordan Rogers has gone to Queensland.
Lewis said it was “extremely disappointing” to lose midfielder Tom Wallis, who has joined Echuca United.
The former Essendon rookie has finished top three in the club’s best-and-fairest the past two seasons.
2020 recruits Dylan Landt (Glenelg), James Peters (Aberfeldie) and Ned Gentile (Airport West) have also exited, while Bruno Laguda has signed with East Keilor.
Forward Karl Brown, who was absent for the 2019 campaign because of a knee injury, will captain the Stars in 2021.
“He’s super fit,” Lewis said.
“He’s a Douttas boy and we’re trying to launch a bit of a platform for the next few years. Our plan for him is a long-term captain of the club.
“He’s worked so hard on his rehab with his knee and trained the house down.
“Hopefully he has a good season.”
The Paul Barnard-coached Stars will face promoted Craigieburn in Round 1 on April 10.
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