EFL: Two-time Balwyn premiership defender Ed McCutchan joins East Burwood
A two-time Balwyn premiership player is among the additions at East Burwood as it prepares for EFL Division 3 following last month’s announcement that its application for promotion had been approved.
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East Burwood has farewelled four players from this year’s grand final team but welcomed a package of players from Balwyn.
Two-time premiership player Ed McCutchan is the most significant addition from the EFL powerhouse.
The defender played in Balwyn’s 2012 and 2015 premierships and made more than 80 senior appearances for the Tigers.
He was only seen at reserves level this year, playing in the seconds grand final defeat.
“I think he’s only 26 … he wanted a change and wanted a different environment,” East Burwood coach Stuart Wynd said.
“He was pretty happy with East Burwood and he’s coming for the right reasons. He’s going to fit into the club really well.”
Wynd expected McCutchan would start in the backline, where he has played the majority of his career, but could fill a number of roles.
“Just talking to him, he can go forward, play through the midfield and that’s something we really struggled with this year — just the big-sized midfielders,” he said.
“Initially he’ll go through our back half.”
Balwyn reserves trio James Baren, Matt North and Jacob Pylka have also signed at the Rams, where they will be given opportunities to establish themselves in the senior team.
“I’ve got a mate at Balwyn and he told me a few of them were looking to move on,” Wynd said.
“He sent them our way, which was nice.”
Adam Brovedani has also crossed from Eltham, where he has been a regular in the Northern league’s senior side since 2014, and Matthew Jenkins has moved from Vermont.
Jenkins played in the reserves premiership this year but played juniors at the Rams.
The league last month approved East Burwood’s application for promotion to Division 3.
It finished as minor premier with a 14-2 record and contested the Division 4 decider but was defeated by Fairpark.
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The Rams will go into next season without star forward Adrian Gileno, who was retired, and Wynd reported Brett Kay and Scott Davis had returned to Knox.
Gileno kicked 42 goals this year and Davis was mentioned in the best players in seven games.
Wynd also said Steve Perri remained doubtful for 2020.
“These guys are 30-plus that are probably on the other side of their best footy,” he said.
“We’ve replaced those guys with younger players.”
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