EFNL 2025: Ruckman Sean Atkinson joins Croydon North-MLOC in late boost
A veteran ruckman of more than 250 games’ experience has landed at Eastern Division 4 club Croydon North-MLOC just days out from the first bounce.
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A “huge” signing on the eve of the season for Croydon North-MLOC.
Huge in stature – but huge in what he might be able to offer according to senior coach Ben Oakes.
The Eastern league Division 4 club has unveiled veteran ruckman Sean Atkinson just days out from Round 1, with the well-travelled tall bringing more than 250 games’ experience across Mooroolbark, Olinda Ferny-Creek and Chirnside Park.
He returns to the game after a year off owing to injury, reuniting with former Mooroolbark and Chirnside Park teammate Grattan Stephens at the club.
Oakes, whose club has also welcomed decorated elder statesman Leigh Odermatt this off-season, said experience had been on the wishlist ahead of 2025.
“He’ll be a good asset for us,” Oakes said of Atkinson.
“We spoke to Sean early on in the piece and he had last year off to get his body right … you can never have too much experience and ruckmen are hard to come by.
“Whether he plays 15 games or 10, we’re going to get something out of Sean on and off the field, like our other recruits.
“We’re putting knowledge around a group of 22-year-olds.”
It’s been an active off-season of recruiting for the Kanga-Rams, even landing what Oakes described at the time as “the biggest signing the club has had” when it secured the signature of Odermatt.
The club has won just a combined five matches across the past two seasons but the coach was confident his side’s new-found experience had it poised to improve.
Atkinson joins an emerging ruck division.
“In this position I think he (Atkinson) is going to do pretty well for us in Division 4 – and he can go forward as well,” Oakes said.
“We think he’ll be huge for us … (and) we only recruit good people into our club.”
Croydon North-MLOC opens its season away to Chirnside Park on April 5.
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