EFL: Four Coburg VFL names align with East Ringwood

EFL Division 1 club East Ringwood has landed the signatures of four VFL names aligning with the club for 2021 – including a captain.

Coburg skipper Ryan Exon has aligned with East Ringwood. Picture: Supplied

East Ringwood has strengthened its list with the inclusion of four VFL-listed names aligning with the club for 2021 – including a captain.

Exciting small forward Sam Lowson will again link with the ‘Roos following his SANFL premiership-winning season with Woodville West-Torrens. He’ll be joined by defenders Liam Whelan (an East Ringwood junior) and Harry Nolan.

Coburg skipper Ryan Exon has also put pen to paper, with the quartet linking up with East Ringwood mentor Ben Osborne having played under his tutelage as Coburg backline coach.

Former East Ringwood junior Sam Lowson celebrates the Eagles’ SANFL flag this year. Picture Matt Turner.

Osborne said their inclusions would benefit his young group’s development as it looks to climb the ladder in the EFL’s Division 1 next year.

“Whether we see a lot of them depends on what the (VFL) season looks like, but we’re just really grateful to have good people,” Osborne said.

“Two of them trained with us (this week), and any time they can come down and help out and just make our sessions better, it just makes us a better team and club.

“It’s a big difference when you see their physique and ability on the track (and) there were some young boys taking notice.”

Osborne believes further strengthening his club’s VFL connection would hold it in good stead for the future.

“Once they do call it a day, it just puts us in the box seat to get them over the line when that day comes,” Osborne said.

“Ryan’s a bit older so he’s probably past the journey of trying to make it to an AFL list but I know Harry Nolan is still keen.

“They just need a bit of luck to go their way, and poor Sammy’s had shocking luck over the past couple of years when he did his ankle just before the mid-season draft (last year).

“There’s probably a bit of a Coburg feel there now with myself, and those boys and Josh Weightman, James Belo was at Coburg and our high performance manager and midfield coach too.”

The ‘Roos’ pre-season is in full swing with vast numbers hitting the track prior to Christmas.

“Through seniors and 19s we’ve ticked over 70 names over the three sessions and we had 60 on the track (this week),” Osborne said.

“It just shows we’ve got a great group that’s progressing really well … but also keen to get around each other. I couldn’t be more impressed.”