VFL talents the flavour of the month for EDFL clubs
Several VFL talents have found their way to EDFL clubs in recent weeks as the off-season ramped up. Here’s all the latest recruiting news including the moves made by two new teams.
Essendon
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Essendon District league clubs have celebrated Christmas and the new year with plenty of exciting inclusions.
New clubs Deer Park and St Albans have unveiled their recruits while the existing sides continue to add plenty of quality.
Here’s all the latest recruiting news from across the competition.
Aberfeldie adds another VFL talent
Last season’s Premier Division runner-up Aberfeldie will have access to another VFL talent in 2023 after it confirmed the arrival of Lochie Smart for next season.
Smart crosses from Deer Park where he kicked 24 goals in 2022.
Jack Mapleson, Josh Kemp, Karl Brown and Ryan Martin as the club’s other confirmed signings so far.
Pascoe Vale’s impressive off-season continues
After going down in the preliminary final, Pascoe Vale has shown its intent to go deeper in 2023 with an impressive off-season.
In recent weeks, the Panthers have confirmed the signing of Josh Iacobaccio, who joins the club full-time in his first season out of the VFL.
“Josh has strong connections with the club as he has previously played footy at the Panthers as well as working with (coach) Digby (Morrell) at Parade which should make the transition a smooth one,” the club said in a social media post.
Joining him will be Ali Saad and Nick Hayes who also have VFL connections.
Daman Aujla has also returned to the club after spending 2022 with West Preston.
Deer Park not coming quietly
Following its acceptance into the EDFL’s second tier, Deer Park has unveiled a swagger of recruits as it aims to make an immediate impact.
Northern Bullants gun Jackson Barling was the first player unveiled by the club as an early Christmas present but it only continued to roll on from there.
Now former Sunshine trio Hisham Kerbatiah, Taygen Dennison and Tom Mundy have all followed Heath Scotland to the Lions.
Kobe Brown (Northern Bullants) and Nash Holmes (Port Melbourne) are also among the club’s new signings.
Billy Drake (Ivanhoe), Jacob Knight (Point Cook) and Mick Edwards (Riddell) are other new faces.
Airport West continues to build
Ahead of its return to Premier Division, Airport West gave its supporters a late Christmas present when it announced the arrival of midfielder Charlie Di Stefano on December 31.
The 186cm prospect arrives from the state’s north where he spent time with Shepparton and the Murray Bushrangers.
Di Stefano joins Elijah Wood, a former member of the Brisbane Lions Academy as the Eagles’ latest signings.
OLDER EDFL RECRUITING NEWS
Country leagues become a key recruiting ground
West Coburg’s hunt for redemption
After losing last season’s Division 1 grand final, West Coburg has done itself no harm of returning to the big dance next season.
The Burgers gave supporters an early Christmas present when they announced the signings of nine players – some returning and some new – for the 2023 season.
They include Ruairi and Dinny Cleary (Avondale Heights), Tom Baravi and Jonah Horo (Maribyrnong Park), Ibrahim Taha (Airport West), Omar Saad and Ben Drummond (Westmeadows), Jake and Liam Rocca (Greenvale).
Star forward Lynden Dunn has departed the club to take up a coaching opportunity in the Southern league with Caulfield Bears.
Coburg Districts adds new trio
Coburg Districts has added further depth to its playing list with three new recruits being unveiled in recent weeks.
Jakob Hanlon, formerly of Keilor, was the first player unveiled in early December.
He’ll be joined by Bayley Overend and Daniel Bottomley.
Northern Saints continue a busy off-season
The Northern Saints’ bid to move up the ladder has received a boost with the arrival of an important key position prospect.
Michael Nnadeikwe has joined the club after previously play for North Footscray, North Sunshine and Albion in the Western Region Football League.
St Albans prepares to build ahead of a new chapter
EDFL newcomers St Albans is continuing to build towards its first season in the competition with a new recruit confirmed in December.
Zach McCasker, 24, has joined the club after stints with Greenvale and Sunbury.
Delisted Don tops local footy’s most wanted list
A recently delisted Essendon key position player is expected to field plenty of offers from local footy clubs while a premiership Magpie is attracting interest after a move to Melbourne. Here are all the latest whispers from around the leagues.
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.