EFNL 2024: Former Box Hill, Norwood midfielder Tom Maloney signs at Doncaster East

A state league premiership-winning midfielder has returned to the Eastern league, linking with a Premier Division club after a country stop.

EFNL 2024: VFL premiership winner Tom Maloney, pictured for Box Hill, has joined Doncaster East. Picture: Box Hill FC

A VFL premiership-winning midfielder is back in the Eastern league – this time as a Lion.

Former Box Hill talent Tom Maloney has signed at Premier Division club Doncaster East, returning to the competition where he won dual best and fairests at Norwood in the top-flight and a Team of the Year honour in 2022.

The ex-Sandringham Dragon spent this season at Seymour in the Goulburn Valley league, where he played 13 matches and was named in the best on 10 occasions.

He links with former Norwood teammates Michael Wenn and Hugh Johnson at Zerbes Reserve, and ex-AFL Hawk and Bulldog Tim O’Brien who he featured in the 2018 VFL flag alongside at Box Hill.

EFNL 2024: Maloney played 48 games for Norwood from 2018-2023. Picture: Supplied

Lions president Peter Sowersby said the value of his club’s latest signing would be seen on and off the field.

“Not only as a player, but I think he’ll bring a lot of leadership around the group as well,” Sowersby said of Maloney, who also won a flag with the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup.

“He’s got a really good head on his shoulders and someone that’s played at that level and obviously been successful at the Eastern footy league is definitely exciting for us.

“He’ll be one of the best midfielders in the comp, that’s for sure.”

Maloney follows the addition of former AFL forward Josh Schache – but the Lions have lost former WAFL talents Chris Phelan and Nick Hay, who have returned to Perth.

Meanwhile, Division 2 club Templestowe has plucked midfielder-half-forwards Stefan Papahronis and Giorgio Papahronis, who played more than 20 senior matches each at Doncaster East.

“If you’re in Premier Division, your fringe players do get targeted by lower divisions,” Sowersby said.

Sowersby said the Lions were set to have a younger, “new-look” list next season.

Prodigious young talent Darcy Jones-Hughes is set to return after a pre-season ACL injury put paid to his 2024 campaign.

The club has also signed up to 27 under-19 prospects.

Darcy Jones-Hughes will return from a long injury lay-off next season. Picture: Hamish Blair

“The talent in the side is going to be really exciting for the club, not just for 2025 but for the future,” Sowersby said.

“Some of the stars who’ve come through (junior feeder club) Beverley Hills or ‘19s in the past few years like Mitch Ryan, Darcy Jones-Hughes, Mak Hoskin (and) Joel Papa are guys who’ve not only become regular senior players but some of our best players now.

“It’s nice to get some great young talent from the area wanting to test themselves at Premier Division – these are the young players who are hungry to test themselves that we’re excited about.

“Playing 14 under-19s this year, our future is looking as strong as ever.”