EFL 2019: Jake Davis and Daniel Ousley among the departures from Eastern Football League club Forest Hill
Forest Hill coach Justin Scicluna maintains the club’s premiership window remains open, despite farewelling some key personnel as the club undergo a transition period.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Forest Hill coach Justin Scicluna maintains the club’s premiership window remains open, despite farewelling some key personnel as the club undergo a transition period.
Best and fairest winner Jake Davis has retired while runner-up Daniel Ousley has returned to Rowville after just one season with the Zebras.
Halfback Harley Burmeister has linked up with Upper Ferntree Gully, while midfielder Ryan Fisher has joined VAFA club Aquinas in further blows for Forest Hill.
EFL: EX-MELBOURNE CAPTAIN JOINS EASTERN LEAGUE CLUB
EFL: DECORATED WAFL STAR HEADING EAST
EFL: SWAG OF ONE-POINT PLAYERS RETURN TO FERNTREE GULLY
EFL: TEMPLESTOWE OUTLINES ITS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE SEASON
EFL: PREMIERSHIP PAIR AMONG RECRUITS AT KNOX
The Zebras have been premiership contenders the past three seasons, narrowly beaten in the 2016 and 2017 grand finals and knocked out in the first final by East Burwood last year.
It’s been tipped Forest Hill will slide this year but Scicluna, who takes the reins from departing mentor Martin Stillman, refuted the suggestion.
“They’re probably the main departures at this stage who are definitely not going to be playing, but then there are the other boys who are not completely sold on finishing up yet,” Scicluna said.
“We hear from the outside, people are saying our window is closed because a couple of these players have left.
“We like hearing that sort of stuff and we’re more than happy to fly under the radar but that for us is external noise.”
Scicluna said the departures would allow Forest Hill to blood its next wave of talent.
Among the additions include proven goalkicker Kane Jones, who has signed from Mount Evelyn after previously kicking 318 goals in four seasons at Seville.
Jacob Zboril will also add another target in attack after crossing from Scoresby, complementing Steve Pimm and Michael Cardamone in the forward line.
Brothers Josh and Brad Wylde (Knox), John Rozakis (Wantirna South) and Tallin Brill (Mount Evelyn) have also signed on.
Scicluna said he was content with the health of his side’s list.
“We’ve had a couple of changeover of players and we’ve looked to inject a bit more youth to our side to address some of the weaknesses we had in our side,” he said.
“That younger brigade will definitely feature in our senior side regularly this year.”
AROUND THE LEAGUES
TAC CUP: TOM LONERGAN GUIDING NEXT WAVE OF TALENT AT CALDER
NFL: CARUSO CLEARED TO JOIN THE BEARS
OFF-SEASON HQ: ALL THE PLAYER AND COACHING MOVES
VFL: UPPER FERNTREE GULLY STAR MAKING AN IMPRESSION AT COBURG