EFL 2019: Taylor Leggate joins Boronia
Boronia will again be one of the teams to beat in EFL Division 2 after Wantirna South star Taylor Leggate put pen to paper at Tormore Reserve.
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Wantirna South star Taylor Leggate will reunite with former coach Matt Clark at Boronia next year.
The goalkicking midfielder put pen to paper at Tormore Reserve on Tuesday night after a decorated career at the Devils.
He featured in Wantirna South’s 2014 Division 3 premiership under Clark, received Division 2 Team of the Year honours in 2016, 2017 and 2018, is a three-time best and fairest winner and kicked 179 goals over 149 senior appearances.
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Clark, who has served as Boronia coach for the past two seasons after seven years in charge at Wantirna South, said Leggate’s experience would be vital after the club’s decision to promote its juniors in recent years.
Boronia Hawks is very excited to announce to members and supporters that TAYLOR LEGGATE will be joining the Hawks for 2020. Taylor can't wait to get around the boys and get stuck in to a big preseason. Please make sure that you make Taylor and his family feel very welcome. pic.twitter.com/H1D58ajYNH
— Boronia Hawks FNC (@boroniahawksfnc) October 15, 2019
“We know we’re a really young list, putting out most weeks 15, 16 players 21 and under,” Clark said.
“Taylor, at that 27-year-old mark, with good footy still in front of him … was going to be integral to helping us develop.”
Clark said Leggate had indicated to Wantirna South he would be on the move.
“That’s how it came about and then it grew from there but having intimate knowledge of how he plays football, how he trains and his skill level … will certainly benefit the club,” he said.
“Once I knew he was definitely going, it was a no-brainer that we could probably look to reunite.
“He was definitely everything we were looking for in a footballer as far as adding that quality A Grader into our midfield, which was an area we identified we needed more depth.”
Noble Park under-19s premiership player Tom Long has also signed at the EFL Division 2 club.
Long played NAB League at Sandringham Dragons and was an under-17 Division 1 best and fairest winner in the South Metro Junior competition in 2017.
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Premiership player Andy Phillips will also return after concentrating on his studies this year, and key-position defender Jacob Farrell is back at his junior club after a stint at Ferntree Gully.
While Boronia has made some significant acquisitions, Clark said the club’s priority would be to its homegrown talent.
“We have to fit them (recruits) into our model,” he said.
“We’re still really well down the path of developing our young list but if there is a gap and we think someone could help us develop that list, we’ll certainly bring them on board.”
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