EDFL 2021: Strathmore signs dual premiership player Matt Knight
A two-time premiership winner and Reg Rose medallist has put pen to paper with top-flight EDFL club Strathmore for 2021.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
One of Strathmore’s premiership heroes has returned to the club in search of a third medallion.
Classy forward Matt Knight featured the Mores’ 2011 and 2014 grand finals, claiming the Reg Rose Medal for best afield in their last Essendon District Football League Premier Division flag.
He has returned to the Strathmore after stints with Division 1 outfit East Keilor and the EDFL’s newest club Rupertswood.
Knight was among Rupo’s best players in its 2019 Riddell District league premiership triumph, finishing with three goals, and is a proven player in big games.
He booted 23 majors from 16 games two years ago and joins a senior squad determined to taste the ultimate success after back-to-back preliminary final defeats by a combined margin of five points.
Mores coach Matt Horne said the lure of another premiership helped attract Knight.
“I’ve got a pretty long-standing relationship with him and we touched base,” Horne said.
“He was pretty open when he went to East Keilor and Rupertswood that he always wanted to finish with Strathmore.
“I think the year off has probably benefited him more than most guys, just with his body and he’s had a couple of knee issues over the journey.
“But he hasn’t missed a session and is probably as fit as I’ve ever seen him.
“Now his body has had the year off, I think he’s going to be a great asset for us.”
The speedster is also capable of running through the midfield and has represented the EDFL at interleague level.
“We have got a lot of good small forwards, so it gives us an opportunity to put a couple of younger guys in the midfield and change our mix a little bit,” Horne said.
“One thing is we’re going to have elite speed, and the way we play suits that.”
Strathmore has secured Jesse Johnson, Tierone Cuffe and Tom Denning since its three-point loss to Aberfeldie in the 2019 preliminary final.
2020 recruits James Sullivan and Arion Richter-Salter have departed without playing a game.
But Horne said his list was in “good shape”, adding there was a “buzz around the club” as clubs move into match simulation training.
The Mores boast an enviable mix of prime movers and young talent and will start 2021 among the leading contenders, with stars Adam Iacobucci, Nick O’Brien, Luke Jarrad, Andew Vavra and Andrew Horne all re-committing.
Strathmore will open its season with a blockbuster Good Friday (April 2) clash against 2019 premier Keilor away from home.
Every signing of the EDFL off-season
The EDFL off-season has only just started but some clubs have already well and truly started making moves for 2025. Keep up to date with every signing in our signing tracker.
Local footy rumour mill: The race for ex-AFL big man
An ex-AFL man mountain appears to be the most in-demand name in the game as the local footy trading season swings into overdrive. Here are all the latest whispers from around the leagues.