EFL: Nathan Wright joins Rowville for 2020
Rowville has big hopes for former St Kilda player Nathan Wright, declaring: “we have no doubt he’s going to be able to push us to another level”.
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Rowville hopes the signing of former St Kilda player Nathan Wright can “push us to another level” in 2020.
The Hawks have been knocked out in the elimination final for the past two seasons and Wright’s signature could be a significant step towards securing the club’s first top-tier finals win.
Wright, 25, spent six years on St Kilda’s list before he was delisted at the end of 2018.
The Rowville Football Club is thrilled to announce the signing of Nathan Wright for season 2020.
— Rowville FC (@Rowvillefc) October 28, 2019
Please join us in welcoming Wrighty and his fiancée Paris to the Hawks.
Go Hawks 💛💛 pic.twitter.com/73UgTGvD11
He remained at VFL affiliate Sandringham this year but stepped away from the state league midway through the season to focus on work commitments.
A connection with former St Kilda teammate James Gwilt helped Rowville gain his services.
“We just spoke about the direction of the club, where we’re heading, the values that we stand for and the success we’re looking to achieve,” Rowville coach John Brown said.
“They were a lot of the ingredients he was after.
“He was looking for a club where there was some excitement and some good youth that fits in with the age bracket he is in.
“He’s a 25-year-old that wanted to make sure he was around a generation of similar aged players and a club that was looking to succeed.”
Wright will help cover the loss of Ben Giobbi, who is joining his brother, Adam, at Euroa.
“We’re picking up a player that has played 35 AFL games and with his leadership and class, we have no doubt he’s going to be able to push us to another level, which is what we need,” Brown said.
“His behaviours and characteristics are going to be great for our young kids as well.”
Rowville has also signed North Ringwood midfielder Nick Lowden, who featured in eight VFL games for Casey Demons this year.
The Gippsland Power product played seven games for the Saints in 2019.
Key defender Mason Crozier has joined Port Melbourne Colts and experienced backman Rob Hill has retired.
Fringe key forward Mark Seedsman has also signed with Doveton.
But Rowville has secured a package of NAB League talent, including Eastern Ranges small forward Chayce Black.
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Junior products Lachlan Stapleton, Tyler Edwards, Jonty Duffy, Jamieson Rossiter and Darius Popa have each committed to the Hawks pending AFL draft selection and VFL listings.
Brown said Rowville wanted to continue to add to its list.
“We’ve got a couple of key priority signings we’re still working through,” he said.
“Nathan was one of those and there is probably another key position we’d like to fill and hopefully we can announce something with that over the next couple of weeks as well.”
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