EDFL: Airport West and Essendon Doutta Stars announce recruits
Roxburgh Park has continued its recruiting spree ahead of the 2023 season with the arrival of two new players from a rival club.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The off-season might have only just started but Essendon District Football League clubs are already getting busy.
The second and third tier clubs have been among the busiest announcing a series of recruits.
Here’s the latest from across the competition.
Roxburgh Park’s recruiting spree continues
Roxburgh Park has been one of the busiest clubs of the EDFL off-season so far and it appears to be showing no signs of slowing down.
The Magpies have unveiled former Sunbury Kangaroos pair Cooper McPharlane and Nathan Carroll among a trio of new recruits.
The pair will add further power to a Roxburgh Park forward line which includes Matt Patane.
McPharlane finished with 41 goals for the season in 2022 while Carroll impressed with his contested marking and physical presence.
Joining them will be young tall Seamus Mulcahy who has predominantly played at centre-half back in his time in the under 18s.
The Magpies have also welcomed young gun Connor Bills from Gisborne on the back of under 18 premiership success while he also played a handful of games in the senior side.
Former Brisbane Lions Academy member Alexi Mamalos will also be in black and white next season after signing for the club.
He’ll be joined by Blake Woodsford, Brodie Naggs, Jimmy Hughes and Jacob Nichols.
Bailey Walpole and Daniel Perry are other new recruits.
A number of players have also recommitted for 2023.
Essendon Doutta Stars adds more talent
Premier Division outfit Essendon Doutta Stars has unveiled more fresh faces as they prepare to move up the ladder in 2023.
WAFL talent Jack Cooley has headlined the latest players announced by the club.
Cooley, 21, averaged just under 18 disposals in for East Perth this season.
“Jack is welcomed from WA whom is a penetrating right footer with clean hands who loves to hunt the footy,” the club said in a social media post.
Joining Cooley will be Ethan Taylor who spent this year at Glenroy meanwhile Tom Barker is returning to the club after a stint with University Blues in the VAFA.
Airport West welcomes back a premiership player
After winning the Division 1 premiership, Airport West is ramping up its preparations for the 2023 season.
The Eagles have confirmed Bior Malual will return to the club as they aim to make their mark on Premier Division.
Malual was part of the club’s 2018 premiership success and won the Eagles’ best and fairest in the same season.
Since then, he has spent time with Werribee in the VFL.
Joining him will be former junior Jacob Martin.
In recent seasons, Martin has spent time with Aberfeldie and Merrigum in the Kyabram District League in northern Victoria.
“Jacob will play a variety of different roles within our midfield in 2023,” the club said.
Pascoe Vale lose an important player
Pascoe Vale will have a big hole to fill in its midfield this off-season with Liam Ogden departing the club.
Ogden is set to return to Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley League where he signed from before the 2019 season.
He was an important player for the Panthers and was named in the best nine times this season.
The Premier Division club recently announced a host of re-signings for next year and Ogden was not among those.
Keilor welcome back Corey Ellis full-time
Keilor has announced Corey Ellis will be back in its colours full-time in 2023.
Ellis spent the 2022 season with Coburg in the VFL.
Premiership defender Riley Ham is also set to return to the club while there have been several departures.
Returning club lands a huge signing
East Sunbury isn’t going about its return to senior footy quietly.
The Thunder have confirmed the signing of Shylo Smith, a former premiership captain with Essendon Doutta Stars.
Smith is also a two-time premiership player with WRFL powerhouse Deer Park and is a former EDFL league best and fairest.
“Shy comes across to East Sunbury absolutely oozing class with leadership qualities and a proven player on the big stage at both EDFL and WRFL level,” East Sunbury said.
“We can’t wait to see Shylo dominating in the Thunder guernsey in 2023 as a standout (sic) player and assistant coach.”
Smith is the club’s first official recruit since the Thunder announced it would field a senior side next year.
They’ll be coached by Aaron Kite.
Smith played for Tooleybuc Manangatang in the Central Murray league this year.
Hillside’s triple raid on rival club
Hillside has flexed its muscle early in the off-season with a triple raid on rivals Tullamarine.
The Sharks have landed ruckman Alessio Gobbo, Anthony Prestia and Ryan Lojko from their Division 1 opponent.
Gobbo will provide the Sharks with a strong presence in the ruck after playing 16 games for Tulla this season.
“Alessio, at 6’5” and an agile ruckman who is just as good on the ground as he is above it, is exactly what the Sharks have been looking for,” the club said.
Prestia is one of the premier midfielders of the competition having played in a premiership with Essendon Doutta Stars.
He is also a three-time Team of the Year selection.
Lojko is a 21-year-old midfielder who uses his 193cm frame to push forward. He played two games in Tullamarine’s senior side this year after joining from Greenvale.
Taylors Lakes building an exciting list
Taylors Lakes’ prospects for the 2023 Division 2 season are getting better by the day.
The Lions have announced the arrival of ruckman Jake Toa for the 2023 season.
Toa spent five seasons with Essendon Doutta Stars in Premier Division between 2016 and 2021.
Daniel De Vito, Vinnie Angelone and Zain Siddique have been confirmed as the club’s other arrivals in recent days.
Earlier in the week: New coach Steve Burns has received a boost to his plans for 2023 after unveiling his first three recruits.
In recent days, the Lions have announced the signings of Jack Burns, Mitch Jones and Raaf Rachrache.
Burns returns to the club after some time with Hillside and East Keilor, where he played one senior game this season.
Jones arrives after a season with Northcote Park in the Northern League Division 1 competition.
Rachrache was Roxburgh Park’s leading goalkicker in 2022 and has been selected in the EDFL Team of the Year on several occasions.
He also co-coached Hadfield to a premiership.
Tullamarine makes moves to respond
Division 1 outfit Tullamarine has added two new players to its mix as it looks to bounce back from a straight sets finals exit.
The Demons have confirmed the signing of Jayden Hind from Keilor for the 2023 season.
Hind has spent time in the EDFL in the past couple of seasons while he has also previously played for Clunes and East Point.
Joining Hind will be Austin Warden who is set to return to the club after a couple of years away due to no under 18s.
Westmeadows land former Vic Metro forward
Former Vic Metro forward Rex Hickman is set to wear yellow and black next year.
Hickman has joined Division 1 outfit Westmeadows from Bacchus Marsh.
Previously, he has also played for Caroline Springs and Mallee Eagles.
“I live 500 metres from the ground and for the couple years I have lived there I have loved the idea of being apart of the club,” Hickman said.
“My wife and I had a son earlier this year and the thought of him being able to grow up with a footy club so close to home is great and even better if it was a club I also got to play at and be apart of.
“So with that in mind I jumped at the opportunity to be apart of the club. I’ve always had a desire to step into coaching.”
Rupertswood land big fish
Former VFL star Dean Galea will provide a major boost to Rupertswood for the next two years.
The 37-year-old has crossed from Keilor and been appointed co-coach alongside Arron Bray.
“It’s a pretty good fit for both parties,” Bray said.
“We had been looking to bring in some experienced heads but they needed to be the right person as well. It will be a team effort (to coach) between the two of us.
Strathmore loses a piece of its premiership puzzle
Strathmore will be aiming to cover the loss of star onballer Nick O’Brien in 2023.
O’Brien has returned to his junior club, Carngham Linton in the Centrals Highlands league, along with his brother Dean for next season.
Ranked: The ex-AFL players who lit up local footy this year
From the bush to the ‘burbs, former AFL players thrilled local football crowds across all corners of the state this year. We’ve named the best – and ranked the top 15. See who heads the list.
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.