EFNL 2021: All the latest key signings ahead of 2022
There’s been no shortage of big recruits across all five divisions, from ex-AFL and VFL identities to homecoming heroes and new names.
Eastern
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Eastern league clubs have been busily recruiting for 2022 since the season finished.
And there’s been no shortage of big recruits landing at clubs across all five divisions, from ex-AFL and VFL identities to homecoming heroes and fresh names in the league.
Check out all the key signings so far across all five divisions ...
PREMIER DIVISION
Doncaster East has been the most prolific recruiter in the league’s top division to date, spearheaded by the arrival of ex-AFL Docker and Blue, Josh Deluca.
The midfielder reunites with Subiaco premiership teammates, Chris Phelan and Zac Clarke, with the trio set to re-form one of state footy’s most dominant midfields after they lifted the WAFL power to an undefeated flag season in 2018. Deluca played 10 AFL matches from 2015 to 2019.
Brother, Chris Deluca, has also joined the Lions, with the midfielder/forward crossing from Southern league club Port Melbourne Colts. Chris won the Colts’ best and fairest in 2019, finished third for the league’s top division honour this season and featured in Subiaco’s 2014 flag alongside his brother and Chris Phelan. Also joining the Lions is small forward and ex-Oakleigh Charger, Daniel Scala, who crosses from rival Premier club, Balwyn.
Meanwhile, South Croydon has been boosted by the inclusion of ex-Box Hill VFL player, Brayden Kilpatrick, who has committed to the club full-time for 2022 after calling time on his state league career. The midfielder won a flag with the Hawks in 2018 in a career which spanned six years and 68 games.
Kilpatrick is joined by Bulldog favourite, Dale Walker, who returns after a season with East Ringwood. Walker has played in five premierships across various leagues, including South Croydon’s 2017 grand final win, and will provide a big lift in defence for the Bulldogs next season.
A familiar name has landed back at Noble Park, with dual premiership forward Shayne Allan set to pull the boots on again for the Bulls in 2022. Allan featured in the club’s 2010 and ’11 premiership sides, booting 416 goals across 191 games in his stint at Moodemere St. He finished up at Pat Wright Snr Oval at the end of 2017, before stints with Pascoe Vale (Essendon DFL) and Edithvale-Aspendale (MPNFL).
He’s joined by another returning star, Chris Horton-Milne, who crosses from top division outfit Dingley in the Southern league which he joined in 2016. Touted as one of the premier midfielders in the Southern league, Horton-Milne featured in three flags with the Dingoes (twice best afield), won two club best and fairests and took out this year’s league best and fairest.
DIVISION 1
The Eastern league’s newest club Beaconsfield has welcomed a pair of big names ahead of its maiden season in the comp, with the arrivals of ex-North Melbourne VFL player Tanner Stanton and Wodonga Raiders midfielder Declan Everett.
Stanton, a piercing left-footer, debuted for North in 2019, while Everett brings TAC Cup experience having played with the Murray Bushrangers and was a consistent performer for the Raiders this season.
Eagles coach Mick Fogarty says there’s more recruits to come, after losing three key names in Brandon White, Nick Battle and Jamie Plumridge to Devon Meadows.
A trio of 2016 premiership stars have returned to Bayswater, headlined by spearhead Wayne McInerney, who’s joined by brother Scott (Glen Waverley) and Hayden Schroeder who returns from abroad.
Wayne returns after a season with Ferntree Gully in Division 3 where he booted 20 majors from nine matches on his way to selection in the Division 3 team of the year, while Scott played all 10 matches for the Hawks, also earning a TOTY spot. Schroeder is a member of the ‘Waters’ team of the decade (2010-19) and is set to combine with Scott in defence.
At Mooroolbark, club great Trent Georgiou has returned to the fold where he made his name as a star defender across 13 years. The six-time team of the year member returns from a couple of seasons with Silvan in Division 4, where he was named at centre half-back in the team of the year in both campaigns.
Meanwhile, East Ringwood has secured 2017 South Croydon premiership player Jason Coghlan, with the small forward reuniting with former Bulldog assistant, Ben Osborne, who coaches the ‘Roos.
The ‘Roos have also strengthened their back six with the signing of Mooroolbark defender Troy Wright, who returns to the club after six years away, which also included a stint with Montrose. Boasting size, clean skills, a great set of hands and a knack for flying for marks, the experienced backman earned selection in the team of the year in 2019, and also finished runner-up in the club best and fairest that season.
Montrose has welcomed the return of sharpshooter Brad Batten-Leitch, after two seasons with Coldstream. He played with the Demons when they competed in the top division before joining Coldstream ahead of 2019, where he topped the goalkicking and earnt a team of the year nod.
He again won a TOTY honour in ’21, following 21 goals from 10 matches in a season where Coldstream finished on top, undefeated.
And the Dees have also welcomed back 200-game premiership player Matt Langdon, who returns after a season with Heathmont in Division 2.
DIVISION 2
Templestowe has been the big player in the league’s third tier – with a swag of recruits set to shoot it up the ladder next season after finishing bottom in 2021.
Ex-AFL big man Cameron Cloke (Hurstbridge) is expected to provide a menacing target up forward, while dual Doncaster East premiership captain Nick Batsanis (Rosebud) and ex-VFL and Doncaster gun Michael Fogarty will add significant midfield power. Batsanis returns to Porter St after winning the best and fairest at the club in 2013, while Fogarty played in a flag with Footscray and won Doncaster’s best and fairest twice.
The Dockers have also secured Max Otten (Blackburn), who will slot in nicely in defence.
Otten spent the past seven years at the Panthers following stints with Donvale (2012-13) and Box Hill (2012). He was selected by the Sydney Swans with pick 21 in the 2010 rookie draft, and later played in Blackburn’s 2019 Premier Division grand final side.
They’re joined by inside midfielder Jai Hardwick (Rosebud) and winger/half forwards Ash Goldsmith (Yarra Old Grammarians) and Jeremy Sakkas (Marcellin), with the pair returning to the club.
Former VFL young gun Mitch Mellis has returned to Boronia where he played most of his junior football, following a two-year stint with Williamstown in the VFL.
The 20-year-old had been aligned with Premier club Vermont for the past two years, playing four matches in the state league in 2021 to go with five for the Eagles. He won three league best and fairests as a junior to go with three at the Hawks, on the way to an Eastern Ranges best and fairest in ’18. Mellis made the 2019 NAB League team of the year, finishing third for the comp best and fairest that season where he also represented Vic Metro.
But Mellis isn’t the only state leaguer returning to their junior club in Division 2.
Ex-Western Bulldogs rookie and VFL name Nathan Mullenger-McHugh has put pen to paper at Heathmont for 2022.
The 197cm utility made more than 50 appearances in the VFL across Footscray, Box Hill and Coburg, including 10 with the Lions this season while aligned with Premier powerhouse, Balwyn. He last played for Heathmont in 2015, with 17 appearances in the seniors to his name, and was drafted to the AFL ranks with pick 16 in the 2016 rookie draft, via the Eastern Ranges.
South Belgrave has also been active on the recruiting scene, signing Rowville premiership tall, Mitch Garner. He’ll be a huge presence next season for the Saints at 200cm, linking up with brother Damian at the club after the pair played in Rowville’s 2012 Division 2 flag. The Saints have also signed medium forward Tom Sonsie (Scoresby), who kicked 20 goals this season for the ‘Pies in Division 3, and big-bodied forward/midfielder Callan Burns (Rowville), who won the reserves comp best and fairest in Premier Division in 2019.
DIVISION 3
Ferntree Gully landed a major recruiting coup in early October when it welcomed back former club junior, Luke McComb, from Vermont. The star inside-midfielder featured in Vermont’s back-to-back senior premierships across 2018 and ’19 across six seasons in the top-flight.
The Eagles have lost key forward Wayne McInerney, but they’ve signed young tall, Jack Flannery, from Narre Warren. The 21-year-old finished runner-up in the Magpies’ reserves best and fairest in 2019. He made five senior appearances in the AFL Outer East’s top division this year, kicking a bag of five against Doveton.
And it’s set to be a new-look Glen Waverley line-up next season, with incoming coach Brett Gatehouse bringing a stack of his former St Mary’s Salesian players across.
Midfielder Max Holmes heads the list, after winning St Mary’s Salesian’s best and fairest this season. He’s had stints with top-flight VAFA club St Kevin’s and Thorpdale in the Mid Gippsland league, along with a stint in the army reserves where he was selected in its All Australian team in 2016.
Older brother, Louis Holmes, has also crossed. The key forward and former St Mary’s Salesian captain topped the club goalkicking on multiple occasions, won a couple of league team of the year gongs and took out a best and fairest with the VAFA outfit.
Medium forward Dan Ryan and midfielders Ned Baxter and D’Arcy Grant have also made the switch.
DIVISION 4
Silvan has farewelled arguably its best player and the premier defender of Division 4 in Trent Georgiou, but its recruiting haul should keep it at the pointy end of the ladder next season.
The Cats have welcomed back key defender Jesse Owen, after a few seasons at Scoresby where he was captain across 2018 and ‘19. He was adjudged best afield in the Cats’ 2014 premiership.
Exciting small forward Justin Ficorilli has crossed from Croydon, linking up with ex-Blues teammate Trent Martin, and gun veteran ruckman James Charge has crossed from Mooroolbark.
Ficorilli kicked 14 goals from 11 matches in the shortened campaign this year, after returns of 26 and 43 across the previous two seasons. He played a major part in the Blues’ rise in recent years, helping the club to a grand final appearance in 2019.
Charge transferred to Mooroolbark for 2021 after a decorated stint with Olinda-Ferny Creek, which included a premiership and a league best and fairest.
The experienced trio are joined by centre half-back, Ray Lengyel, who crosses from Division 1 Southern outfit, Dingley, and Mount Evelyn half-back/winger, Billy Rattray. And there are said to be more new names on the horizon at the Cats.
Meanwhile, Surrey Park has welcomed Blackburn’s James Kenworthy, with the 29-year-old bringing a wealth of experience to the Panthers after a decade in the league’s top division.
He played his junior football at the club, and will serve as a playing-assistant. He’ll be a nice addition to a Panthers outfit which has re-signed a stack of its players for next season.
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