EFNL: All the latest key signings ahead of 2024

Ex-AFL talent, state league names, homecoming heroes and more – there’s been no shortage of key player signings landing across all five Eastern league divisions ...

Tim O’Brien has joined Doncaster East. Picture: Sarah Reed

Eastern league clubs have been busily recruiting for 2024 – and there’s been no shortage of key player signings landing across all five tiers.

See all the latest inclusions in our division-by-division guide ...

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PREMIER DIVISION

BALWYN

Balwyn has added former AFL Kangaroo Kayne Turner.

The midfielder was delisted in October after almost a decade at North Melbourne, playing 130 games from 2014-2023.

Meanwhile, ex-VFL midfielder Noah Lever has signed, fresh out of Williamstown.

BERWICK

Former St Kilda rookie Josiah Kyle headlines the inclusions amid a quiet off-season of recruiting at the Wickers.

The 20-year-old was added to the Saints’ list following the 2021 national draft, stepping away from the AFL club in June 2022.

He linked with Southern’s Doveton Doves soon after, before playing for MPFNL side Devon Meadows in ’23, training with VFL outfit Box Hill before Christmas.

MORE: Why Berwick refresh has coach bullish

BLACKBURN

Jake Hammond is back at Morton Park.

The high-flyer spent the past two seasons with the Cohuna Kangas in the Central Murray league, following a decorated stint with the Burners from 2014-2021 which took in almost 400 goals across more than 130 games.

The former Oakleigh Chargers and Port Melbourne VFL talent enjoyed returns of 54, 59, 60 and 53 majors at Blackburn from 2016-2019.

Former Brisbane Lions mid-forward Toby Wooller has also linked with the club full-time. He spent last season with Goulburn Valley outfit Kyabram and Essendon’s VFL side.

DONCASTER EAST

Ex-AFL forward Tim O’Brien headlines the Lions’ haul, following more than 100 games across Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs from 2013-2023.

Former Port Melbourne VFL names Hugh Johnson and Michael Wenn have joined from Premier Division rival Norwood, while experienced midfielder Chris Tout will test himself in the top-flight this season after crossing from Warrandyte in Division 3.

EAST RINGWOOD

It’s a late pre-season gift for East Ringwood less than a month out from the opening round.

The ‘Roos have signed Traye Bennell, cousin of former AFL speedster Jamie, following more than 100 games for WAFL club Peel Thunder.

Earlier ...

Arguably the Southern league’s most damaging forward is set to boost an already-potent ‘Roos attack this season, with Cheltenham spearhead Josh Fox joining the club.

Fox played a vital role in Chelt’s Division 1 premiership last season, kicking 77 goals on the way to Team of the Year selection.

Four-time Team of the Year backman Tristan Tweedie has returned after a five-year stay at Premier Division rival, Norwood, and midfielder Liam Kinsella is back after two years abroad.

And former AFL Demon and Eagle Jamie Bennell has crossed from Premier Division rival, Norwood.

Ex-AFL Hawk Connor Downie will be on East Ringwood’s books this season, as he continues to pursue his footy in the state league for North Melbourne. Downie was selected by Hawthorn with pick 35 in the 2020 national draft before playing two matches in the brown and gold across 2021 and ’22.

Meanwhile, Ryan Exon, Connor Weightman and Sahaf Ali have committed full-time after stepping away from VFL, while emerging 197cm talent Riley Weatherill is slated for senior opportunities, with the 19-year-old fresh from a stint with the Eastern Ranges.

NOBLE PARK

The Bulls have welcomed James McCubbin (Greensborough), who returns to the Eastern league after previous stints with Norwood and Mitcham, alongside Tom Nelson and Scott McInerney.

Meanwhile, gun VFL pair Luke Nelson and Bailey Lambert have returned to the state league, signing at Carlton, after previously committing to the Bulls full-time for 2024.

And conjecture surrounded the futures of star pair Kyle Martin and Jackson Sketcher at the end of last season, but the dynamic duo put all speculation to rest when they re-signed, with Martin set to return from a knee injury.

NORWOOD

Ex-AFL defender Tom Highmore has found a new home at Mullum Mullum Reserve, following three seasons at St Kilda. The 25-year-old played 16 matches for the Saints from 2021-2023 after his selection at pick 45 in the 2020 national draft. He was delisted in October and has also linked with VFL outfit Port Melbourne.

Former AFL Demon and Kangaroo Jordan Gysberts has returned to the club alongside 2014 Norwood flag teammate Dean Poynton, while ex-vice captain Michael Wright is back after a stint at Bonbeach.

Key defender and former Eastern Ranges captain Josh Tovey has signed, while Jarrod Thomson (returning) and Will Quirk (Myrtleford) will add grunt to the midfield.

Former Sandringham Dragon Ben McLean is set to boost the back six, arriving from Bonbeach where he finished runner-up for the best and fairest in 2022.

Port Melbourne VFL-listed Guy Barnes has aligned, with the midfielder-forward previously playing for South Fremantle and Peel Thunder in the WAFL.

Denver Lund will add plenty of height up forward and in attack with the 207cm talent bringing a basketball background, having represented Victoria at under-20 level. Recently training with VFL club Frankston, Lund was a member of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy.

Malachi Owers (Noosa, QAFL), Jackson Winter (Park Orchards) and Chris Tibb are also among the key inclusions.

ROWVILLE

Excitement surrounds the arrival of young gun Riley Linke, who crosses from Division 2 club Mulgrave. The 193cm talent is touted as “athletic with a huge motor and a lovely left shoe” by Hawks senior coach Ben Wise, who has him earmarked for a forward role in 2024. Linke featured in Mulgrave’s seniors last season when not playing for Caulfield Grammar, and is the nephew of club great, Paul ‘Monster’ Mynott.

Liam Coghlan has crossed from Doncaster via VFL outfit Box Hill where he played most of his footy in 2023. He’ll be aligned with Port Melbourne this year.

Versatile defender Brayden Lapanche has linked with the Hawks, with the 2023 Eastern Ranges co-captain also listed at VFL outfit Casey, while Ranges best and fairest and grand final best-afield Tyson Sruk will also call Seebeck home, alongside VFL duties with Carlton.

MORE: How Rowville is shaping for flag defence

SOUTH CROYDON

The Bulldogs have been buoyed by the return of star defender Chris Jones as they look to climb the Premier Division ladder this season.

Jones is fresh off a 50-game stint with WAFL club Swan Districts from 2021-2023, after last playing at South Croydon in 2019.

The former VFL defender spent five seasons with Box Hill from 2014-2018, taking in state representative honours in 2017 before a premiership with the Hawks in ’18.

Big-bodied midfielder/forward James Fasan has joined from the Whitehorse Pioneers, where he won the best and fairest and made the Division 3 Team of the Year in 2022. He’s played most of his footy with Park Orchards.

And the Bulldogs have welcomed back 2017 premiership defender James Crowle following a season with Division 3 outfit, Fairpark, alongside former captain Jason Want.

DIVISION 1

BAYSWATER

Former Eastern Ranges gun Christian Poe has signed on at the Waters, crossing from The Basin in Division 2. A regular starter for the Bears in recent seasons, he’s set to bolster Bayswater’s engine room, with the tough midfielder taking the honours for best afield in the 2022 under-19 grand final.

Baysie has also signed Riley Purton (Lysterfield) who is expected to play most of the season at the Dandenong Stingrays. He’s the son of 1995 Bayswater premiership hero, Dion.

BEACONSFIELD

The Eagles have been busy.

Former St Kilda utility Nathan Wright has signed at the Eastern league Division 1 outfit, crossing from top-flight Southern league club Chelsea Heights.

Wright played 35 matches for St Kilda across six years from 2013-2018 before linking with Chelsea Heights ahead of 2023, playing 17 matches.

Casey VFL pair Mitch Szybkowski and Kobe Shipp have aligned with the Eagles, with the duo touted to add class and dash to the Eagles.

Tall talent Charlie Muley has arrived from top-division club Berwick, after kicking 24 goals last season where he was also listed at Casey.

Mackay Bateson (Monbulk), Matt Orford (Pakenham) and Brady Niezgodka (Noble Park) round out the signings.

MITCHAM

Fresh off an upset grand final win in September, the Tigers have added Vermont pair Flynn Maguire and Michael Silvaggi, alongside Blackburn duo Nat Barnes and Xander Tassell.

Meanwhile, spearhead Jake Parente has committed full-time for 2024.

The gun forward spent time with VFL outfit Northern Bullants in 2023, before returning from injury to feature in the finals.

MORE: Tigers top up in back-to-back flag tilt

MONTROSE

Former Gold Coast Sun Brodie McLaughlin has aligned to the Demons. He’ll play state league footy for Williamstown this season. McLaughlin won a spot on Gold Coast’s AFL list for 2023 after lighting it up for Frankston, helping the Suns to the VFL flag with 55 goals – topping the competition to win the Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal. He was delisted from the AFL club at the end of last season.

Young gun Liam Canny has joined from Launceston in the Tasmanian state league, with the midfielder captaining the club’s development premiership in 2022 before cementing a spot in a dominant senior outfit.

Isaac Tanzimat has also committed following 28 goals for the Eastern Ranges last season. Kobe Ferguson (The Basin) has signed alongside Patrick Huynh (Warburton Millgrove), while Kyle Stapes returns from Warragul.

MOOROOLBARK

VFL pair Ry Cantwell (Richmond) and Lachie Monteath (Essendon) have aligned with the Mustangs. The duo are no strangers to the east, having previously played with the Eastern Ranges.

NORTH RINGWOOD

Ex-Northern Blues/Bullants captain and current Collingwood VFL star Tom Wilson headlines the inclusions – and will kit up for the Saints when VFL duties permit. Wilson, who chalked up his 150th state league match in 2023, took home five club champion awards during his time at Northern.

Peter Rozanitis has crossed from Mazenod and is set to bolster the Saints’ key forward and ruck stocks.

SOUTH BELGRAVE

Recently retired AFL midfielder Luke Dunstan has landed at South Belgrave, following 121 matches across St Kilda and Melbourne from 2014-2023.

Dual premiership tall Lachlan Benson has crossed from Narre Warren in Outer East’s top-flight, and 19-year-old midfielder/forward Blake Simondson has arrived from Berwick Springs. He’s also listed with North Melbourne VFL, and made the Outer East league Division 1 Team of the Year in 2022.

Former Silvan captain Matteo D’Alfonso has also signed, with the midfielder fresh off winning the club’s best and fairest following a premiership in Division 4 in 2019.

Ex-Eastern Ranges draft prospect Tyreece Leiu has committed to the club after stepping away from VFL level. He split his time between the Eastern league and Carlton’s VFL arm last year.

And former Sydney Swan Lachlan Rankin has aligned with the club via Port Melbourne VFL.

WANTIRNA SOUTH

Warrandyte’s Quinn Clark has sought to challenge himself in a higher division following a best-and-fairest at the Bloods in 2022 and a runner-up finish last season. The 23-year-old has made his name as a key forward but relished a move into defence last year.

He joins Premier Division under-19.5 league best and fairest Sam Pascuzzi, with the midfielder making the move from Noble Park.

DIVISION 2

BORONIA

The reigning premier has bolstered its attack with the inclusion of Tom Sonsie (South Belgrave), who’ll hunt regular senior opportunities. He topped the goalkicking at Scoresby in 2019 and ’21 before shifting to the Saints the following year.

The Hawks have also added former VFL North Melbourne and Coburg tall Liam Whelan, who has crossed from Tyntynder in the Central Murray league. The 194cm talent previously plied his trade for East Ringwood and Aquinas, along with a stint at the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL.

CROYDON

The Blues have secured Norwood champion Rhett Jordon as their playing-coach for 2024.

The midfielder captained Norwood in a career spanning a decade and some 150 games at the club, also bringing previous experience as a player with Northern league power West Preston Lakeside and VFL club Coburg.

Wingman-half-back Liam Spurrell (North Ringwood) has joined alongside swingman Luke Parsons (Norwood), midfielder-forward Tim Anderson (Woori Yallock), ruckman Darcy Yule (Norwood) and versatile tall Luke Hoogstra (Kilsyth). Ryan Nunziante, Mike Whelan, Cody Martin and Nick Woodworth have also signed.

MORE: The recruits and returning guns set to boost Blues

EAST BURWOOD

A package of recruits have joined from top-division powerhouse Balwyn, significantly bolstering the Rams’ midfield. Ned Mullins brings experience as a strong-bodied midfielder, Andrew Bottomer boasts plenty of speed as a wingman while Joe Gorman provides a lift in the ruck, also previously plying his trade for Ovens & Murray heavyweight, Yarrawonga.

Callum Spencer is set to add height to the Rams’ defence at 190cm, crossing from Greensborough following a stint with Corowa Rutherglen, while ruckman Anthony Jenkins has returned from Vermont.

Yarrawonga pair Jack Forge (midfielder) and Judd Hooper (defender) have also signed.

MORE: The recruits driving new-look East Burwood

HEATHMONT

Norwood trio Dylan Feltham, James Feltham and Braden Bird and Dan Young are among the Jets’ new names this off-season.

Dylan, a former Eastern Ranges talent, was a prolific ball-winner in the Norsemen midfield while James is set to provide plenty of grunt in attack as a big-bodied mid-forward. Bird has built a reputation as an inside midfielder while Young is a key defender.

The Jets have also signed Lachie Jackson from Croydon and big-bodied defender Zak Trotter (East Burwood), with the pair joining the club via family connections.

Inside midfielder Mitch Jones is the club’s latest addition, with the ex-Eastern Ranges talent also capable of slotting in up forward or down back. He played for Birregurra in the Colac & District league last year.

MULGRAVE

The Lions have welcomed back key forward Tom McGowan after two seasons in Western Australia. The spearhead last played for Mulgrave in 2021, finishing runner-up for the comp goalkicking. The former Glen Waverley Rovers junior also won an under-19s flag with Mulgrave.

Mobile big man Bryce Curtis has joined from Berwick and should provide a lift in the ruck.

TEMPLESTOWE

Former SANFL big man Bailey Griffiths has returned to the Eastern league Division 2 outfit, crossing from Wodonga.

The 203cm ruckman is the nephew of Port Adelaide premiership star Dean Brogan and the son of dual basketball Olympian, Michelle Brogan.

He spent two seasons with South Adelaide before his stop at the Ovens and Murray club this year.

Ex-Glenelg utility Nathan Franklin is set to boost the club’s leg speed, re-joining the Eastern league after playing with Doncaster East in 2019, while defender Lachlan Carter has also returned.

Nick Bird has arrived at Porter St following the past four seasons at Premier outfit Balwyn, where he played in across multiple positions, including wing, half-forward and half-back. He’s also played basketball at college and academy level in North America.

The Dockers have also secured forward Yianni Kazakis from Doncaster East, where he topped the club’s reserves goalkicking last season in the league’s top-flight following the under-19.5 crown in 2022.

MORE: Dockers address key deficiencies

THE BASIN

The Bears have arguably been Division 2’s most active club.

Champion forward Billy Schilling has put pen to paper, returning to the Eastern league following a stint with Traralgon. A former captain at Montrose where he kicked more than 500 goals, Schilling’s most recent Eastern league stop was at North Ringwood, often used at centre half-back. The three-time Team of the Year representative featured in Montrose’s 2013 premiership in the league’s second tier.

Former AFL-listed Kangaroo Joel Perry has signed, following back-to-back flags with Powelltown across the past two seasons. The 195cm key forward brings more than 300 games’ experience, taking in stops at East Ringwood and Vermont, alongside a playing-coach stint at Upper Gully.

Veteran defender Troy Wright adds more than 250 games’ experience, after helping East Ringwood to a premiership in 2022. He’s also had stops at Croydon, Montrose and Mooroolbark, earning a spot in the Division 1 Team of the Year in 2019.

Daniel Frost has joined from Doveton, after previously playing at Norwood and Mitcham. He’s touted as having elite skills on both sides of the body, boasting versatility in attack or defence.

Former VFL Northern Blue Lachlan Moss has also arrived, bringing premiership experience from Bayswater among stints with Devon Meadows where he finished runner-up for the best and fairest, and a recent coaching stop at Hallam.

Inside midfielder and defender Harley Burmeister-Lyons (Koondrook Barham) will add plenty of experience with more than 200 games under his belt, including a previous stint at Upper Gully, while half-back Josh Swainston (Heatherton) has also signed.

The Bears have also welcomed back forward Jackson Drake after a stop at Berwick.

WAVERLEY BLUES

Jayson Miller is expected to add pace to the Blues’ line-up, returning to the club after time at Bairnsdale. Miller featured in the Blues’ 2019 premiership in Division 3.

Former junior Kyle Viccars has also returned, following time in the league’s top tier with Doncaster where he earned a spot on Port Melbourne’s books last year – and was named the VFL club’s most determined player this season.

DIVISION 3

COLDSTREAM

Three-time premiership mentor Jarrod Bayliss will serve as playing-coach of Coldstream in 2024.

Fresh off overseeing back-to-back flags with Outer East club Powelltown, Bayliss also led Park Orchards to a Division 3 crown in 2017 following stints with Wandin from 2010-2014 and 2016.

He also played for Premier Division club Vermont in 2019, before linking with Mooroolbark the next year – but didn’t play a game due to the season’s cancellation.

The incoming coach has attracted a wealth of experience to the Cougars, with Brock Castree, Gary Conyers, Jake Sheriff and Dylan Sverns signing.

FERNTREE GULLY

Cooper Wright has joined the Eagles from Outer East club Officer, where he claimed multiple top-five finishes in the league best and fairest. He’s touted as having pace to burn through the midfield and on the wing.

Ruckman Haydan Versluys-Tyrer signs on after stops at Hallam, Hampton Park and Narre Warren South, while high hopes surround Cranbourne pair Callum Pola and Tom Ostrom.

They’re joined by half-back and forward Riley Williams and midfielder-forward Shane Wooley (Narre South). Key forward Chris Dennis, utility Jayden McDonald and small forward Stewart Williamson round out the key signings.

Read more on Ferntree Gully’s pre-season here.

KNOX

The Falcons have been busily bolstering their list ahead of their move into Division 3, following a three-win season in Division 2.

Dysan Morris (Berwick Springs), Ryan Hall (Rowville) and Gavin Pears (Karingal) are set to add experience to the young line-up.

OAKLEIGH DISTRICT

Former Brisbane Lions academy talent Ethan Hunt has put pen to paper. The former Queensland underage representative is set to fill a key spot up forward. The Oaks have also added a handful of names – Dean Mitropoulos (Noble Park), Dean Apostolopoulos, Harry O’Neill (South Belgrave) and Ben Di Cioccio (Glen Waverley).

MORE: Oaks’ plan to cover sharpshooter

SILVAN

Four-time premiership star Michael Fowkes has linked with the Cats, following back-to-back flags with Outer East club Powelltown. The key forward will serve as senior playing-assistant coach to new Silvan mentor Jeremy Thomas, with the pair reuniting after time spent at Park Orchards, Thomas as president and Fowkes as a player, helping the club to its inaugural Eastern crown in Division 3 in 2017. Fowkes has also won a flag with Wandin.

SURREY PARK

Two-time Doncaster East premiership spearhead Jake Summers is back in the Eastern league, returning to Surrey Park where he played his juniors.

He spent the past two seasons with Kyneton in the Bendigo league after winning flags in Eastern’s second tier in 2018 and ‘19 – the latter as best afield.

He’s joined by younger brother Lachie, a utility who returns to the club from Old Carey.

The Panthers have also welcomed back big-bodied midfielder Damien Frisina and defender Bede Briscomb. Both have previously made Eastern league teams of the year and should boost the newly-promoted Surrey Park following its Division 4 premiership.

And Zak Stone has crossed from Division 1 club Wantirna South, where he featured in its 2023 reserves flag.

UPPER FERNTREE GULLY

Upper Ferntree Gully has bolstered its list ahead of its move into a new division this season – headlined by a two-time league medallist.

Dual competition best and fairest Russell Cowan has joined the Kings, fresh off back-to-back flags with Powelltown in the Outer East league.

MORE: Kings inject experience, firepower

They’ve secured Yarra Junction midfielder Dylan Cawsey, who averaged 33 possessions a game in the Outer East’s Division 2 last season on his way to selection in the Team of the Year. He’s also touted for his kicking efficiency and goal-sense.

Joining the classy mid is noted goalkicker Jake Cawsey, returning to the club where he kicked 60 majors from 20 matches as a 19-year-old in 2016. In the past two seasons he’s had stints with Northern club Lalor and Yarra Junction last season, kicking 25 goals from 11 matches, averaging 6.6 score involvements a game.

Defender Jake Saltum has also signed, returning to the Kings after stints with Dalyston in the West Gippsland league, Knox and Robina in AFL Queensland where he played 15 matches last season.

WARRANDYTE

Local footy journeyman Dean Limbach has found a new home for 2024 at the Division 3 club.

The former Williamstown VFL forward crosses from Templestowe where he played 12 matches last season after linking with the Division 2 outfit in May.

The spearhead has kicked almost 900 goals across more than 250 games in a career spanning several clubs.

Versatile tall Jack Palmer is the club’s latest addition, arriving from Northern Territory league Division 2 club Southern Districts.

MORE: Bloods to back youth

DIVISION 4

CHIRNSIDE PARK

The Panthers have been arguably Division 4’s most active club this off-season, signing a package of recruits.

Former Mooroolbark and Croydon big man Paul Thatcher is the latest signing, bringing more than 200 games’ experience and is set to boost the club’s key position stocks.

MORE: ‘Missed opportunity’ drives Panthers’ recruiting spree

Livewire forward Justin Ficorilli brings more than 500 goals across stints at Croydon and Silvan, helping Silvan to the Division 4 flag in 2022 with 70 majors.

Football journeyman Tyson McKenzie has also signed. McKenzie has won two best-and-fairests, twice named in league teams of the year and has taken in multiple leading goalkicker awards across stops at several clubs. The experienced midfielder’s stops have included Silvan, Mitcham, Warburton Milgrove and Coldstream, having also served as playing-coach of Congupna in the Murray Football League in 2016 and 2017.

Mitch Skien (Warrandyte), Peter Cassidy-Marsh (Nunawading), Aidan Pemberton (Croydon) and Billy Findlay (Ashwood) round out the key signings.

CROYDON NORTH-MLOC

Some handy signings for the Kanga-Rams, with quick-moving midfielder Benjamin Gill crossing from Park Orchards, while key forward and ruckman Mitch Starling has also joined.

Key forward Lachy Jackson has crossed from Bayswater, while other signings include Charlie NG (Boronia), Ben Nugent (Dandenong Masala), Andy Condello (Seville) and Mason Loring.

KILSYTH

The Cougars have lured one of local footy’s most damaging forwards of the past decade, with Justin Van Unen putting pen to paper.

Fresh off a flag with Outer East club Powelltown, the former ‘Recruit’ star has almost 1000 career goals to his name, twice kicking the ton in a season across a career stretching several clubs.

Dean Maunder (Yarra Junction) and former club juniors Cody George (tall forward) and Luke Ivanovic (utility) have also signed.

NUNAWADING

Ruckman Thomas Flood has joined the Lions, reuniting with former Manningham Cobras coach Frank Salanitri. Flood played under Salanitri at the Cobras, making the 2019 VAFA Division 3 Team of the Year. He’s also had stints with St Albans and most recently Whittlesea in the Northern league’s Division 1, where he played nine games last season.

SCORESBY

Adam Amin headlines the Maggies’ signings, with the former Glen Waverley key forward returning to the Eastern league following stops at West Gippsland clubs Dalyston, and Koo Wee Rup where he kicked 34 goals from 17 matches last year.

Prolific ball-winner Hugh Alabaster has signed on, crossing from Wantirna South’s under-19s where he was named in the Devils’ best on 10 occasions last season, finishing runner-up for the best and fairest. He’s joined by Devils teammates Jake Raymakers and Josh King.

Cooper Thompson (Noble Park) has also signed.

MORE: Where Scoresby will hunt improvement