EDFL 2021: Former VFL player Ozgur Uysal joins Pascoe Vale

The Panthers have received a mid-season boost with an experienced goalkicking midfielder joining the EDFL Premier Division club.

Ozgur Uysal has signed with Pascoe Vale. Picture: Hamish Blair

Pascoe Vale’s finals hopes have received a boost with ex-VFL midfielder Ozgur Uysal linking with the Essendon District Football League Premier Division club.

Uysal has spent the past two seasons with Northern league power West Preston-Lakeside, featuring in its 2019 premiership, but has not taken the field this year.

Ozgur Uysal during his VFL days.

He arrives with six years of state league experience at Coburg and Essendon and also had a stint at Greenvale.

“Ozgur is mates with a few of our guys … he’s just got back into this year,” Panthers coach Digby Morrell said.

“Obviously a great leader and excellent midfielder. He’s won premierships with West Preston-Lakeside, so his experience and drive is something we’re excited to see.

“He’s led West Preston-Lakeside well in those years and was a driving force behind them becoming a powerful Northern club, so that experience is going to be great for our group.

“But it’s probably a bit more of a longer-term project than a short-term one.

“We’ll just let Ozgur plod along and when he’s ready to go, he’s ready to go.”

While Uysal is a proven prolific midfielder, he is also dangerous in the attacking 50m arc.

He contributed 42 goals from 36 games in his two years at the Roosters and contributed 23 goals for Greenvale in his last EDFL season in 2017.

Panthers gun Matt Watson has 32 goals from eight games in 2021, while Brad Inglis has 16 to his name from six outings.

But no other Pascoe Vale player has reached double figures so far, with Jacob Polizzi contributing nine majors.

“We need to increase our scoring options, especially from our midfield group, so we think he (Uysal) will complement the boys that are in there at the moment,” Morrell said.

The fourth-placed Panthers will meet sixth-ranked Maribyrnong Park away from home in a vital clash on Saturday.