Revealed: 30 Eastern league Premier Division names to watch in 2025
From ex-AFL guns, sharpshooting forwards, burly defenders, key recruits and more, talent runs deep through the Eastern league’s top-flight. Here are 30 names to keep an eye on this season.
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There’s no shortage of talent in the Eastern league’s top division.
From ex-AFL guns, sharpshooting forwards, burly defenders, key recruits and more, we’ve listed 30 names, in alphabetical order, to keep an eye on this season.
Chevy Andersen (Balwyn)
Achieved the coveted feat of a best and fairest in a premiership year last season, giving the Balwyn midfielders first use more often than not against formidable opposition. One of the league’s best ruckmen.
Jordy Andrews (Berwick)
Bringing around 500 goals back to the Wickers, with the club favourite has returned after a three-year stint with Dromana in the MPFNL.
Andrews won a Division 1 flag in his time away while also earning a Team of the Year gong.
Kade Answerth (Blackburn)
The Burners’ new captain is as important as any to his side, averaging more than 24 disposals a match last year as well as 6.5 score involvements a game.
James Belo (East Ringwood)
The reigning Chandler medallist as the best and fairest in the league’s top division as the Roos came within two points of the flag last season. And a runner-up finish for the senior men’s top individual honour in 2023 tells you all you need to know about the gritty midfielder’s dominance.
Anthony Brolic (Rowville)
The midfield bull’s influence on games remains matched by few in the competition – with the ex-VFL star toasting another Team of the Year gong in 2024. Can break a game open at the slightest opportunity.
Jesse Cherry (Mitcham)
A key member of the Tigers’ back-to-back premierships in Division 1, the zippy, silky-skilled midfielder again delivered under pressure last season on the way to a spot in the Division 1 Team of the Year, named in the best a whopping 15 times from 20 matches.
Pat Cotter (Blackburn)
The rugged defender didn’t see a heap of the ball last season – but more often than not, neither did his opponent. And what he did without the pill was just as important with plenty of one-percenters. Recognised with Team of the Year selection in the back pocket.
Damon Delaney (East Ringwood)
Among the best afield for the Roos in three finals last year, the defender was given one of the league’s toughest assignments in the grand final – Balwyn livewire Charlie Haley – keeping his opponent to a goal. Not only is that a big win, but even being entrusted such a task speaks volumes of the esteem he’s held in at the Roos.
Taylin Duman (Doncaster East)
The former Fremantle Docker won the centre half-back spot in the Team of the Year last season, also tying with Josh Deluca for the club best and fairest. Averaged more than 27 possessions a game along with almost nine rebound 50s and more than seven intercept possessions.
Josh Fox (East Ringwood)
Full forward in the Team of the Year last season following 39 goals from 19 games. The former Cheltenham champion was one of the recruits of the season and certainly lived up to the rigours of the Eastern league’s top-flight.
Jake Hammond (Blackburn)
The high-flying club favourite made a seamless return to the Burners last season, booting 41 goals in 16 matches on the way to Team of the Year selection at centre half-forward. When he’s on song there are few more exciting.
Charlie Haley (Balwyn)
Is there a more exciting medium-sized forward in local footy? The livewire topped the Premier Division goalkicking last year with 57 on the way to captaining the Tigers to their first flag in seven years. One of the toughest match-ups in the competition, boasting aerial and ground dominance.
Lachie Johns (Vermont)
Another best and fairest last season for the two-time premiership skipper, notching up a club-record seventh gong to move three clear of the great Ryan Mullett. The on-baller featured in the best on 11 occasions of his 19 matches last season on the way to another Team of the Year nod.
Chris Jones (South Croydon)
Arguably the Premier Division’s best centre half-back, the former WAFL star won South Croydon’s best and fairest last season as the club bounced back to contest a semi-final.
Brayden Kilpatrick (South Croydon)
The ex-VFL midfielder earned a starting spot in the Team of the Year at half-forward and was named the Doggies’ best finals player. Coach Brendan Allen spruiked a ringing endorsement last season: “His decision-making under pressure is remarkable – he just finds the right option all the time … he’s nice to have on your side, put it that way.”
Tom Maloney (Doncaster East)
The Box Hill VFL premiership-winning midfielder returns to the league after a stop at country club Seymour. He spent 2018-2023 on Norwood’s books, winning two best and fairests in Eastern’s Premier Division.
“He’ll be one of the best midfielders in the comp, that’s for sure,” outgoing Doncaster East president Peter Sowersby said.
Jordan Marson (Noble Park)
Touted by coach Steve Hughes to fill the void in the midfield left by the exit of the club’s biggest names. “(He) is probably the obvious one, who’s now in excess of 100 senior games,” Hughes said.
“He has been our fourth mid for the best part of a few seasons – he’s had a really good, comprehensive pre-season and he’s a pretty experienced player now in his mid-20s … there’s an opportunity for him to take that next step.”
Lachlan McDonald (Rowville)
The midfielder affectionately known as ‘Wiz’ took in some 26.5 disposals a match last year, culminating in a spot on the wing in the Team of the Year. Notched up his 150th match last season – and perhaps one of his most influential performances of 2024 came in a final-round nail-biter at Noble Park, seeing a heap of the ball and nailing two crucial goals to steer the Hawks into the finals.
Mitch Riordan (Noble Park)
The former Gold Coast Sun is set to resume his footy with the Bulls after a year off. The dynamic inside midfielder was selected with pick 2 in the 2019 mid-season draft after co-captaining the Dandenong Stingrays to their first Coates Talent League premiership in 2018, and now at 25, high hopes surround the 187cm talent after an ACL injury put paid to his time at the top level. “He’s training really well and adds a bit to our leadership group, toughness and intelligence around the footy,” Noble Park coach Steve Hughes said.
James Ross (Vermont)
The tough, young defender has been named captain of the Eagles following another big season which was capped off with another Team of the Year selection. He’s enjoyed a rapid rise as one of the comp’s best backs.
Josh Schache (Doncaster East)
The 27-year-old’s 76-game AFL career came to an end this year following stops at Brisbane, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne after going No. 2 in the 2015 draft. But the key forward was quick to find his next football home, linking with former Bulldogs teammate Tim O’Brien at the Eastern league Premier Division club in October.
At 199cm, defenders in the league’s top-flight can expect a tough day at the office.
Nik Schoenmakers (Rowville)
Starting ruckman in the 2024 Team of the Year after leading the comp in hit-outs to advantage, there’s arguably none better at the craft than the big Hawk. Featured in the best in two of three finals last season – including the prelim – on the way to winning Rowville’s best and fairest. Premiership player for the Hawks in 2023.
Liam Shiels (South Croydon)
Arguably the biggest signing in local footy, the triple premiership Hawk and ex-Kangaroo brings nearly 300 AFL games’ experience to Cheong Park – and the Bulldogs’ midfield. “He was still running around in the midfield for North Melbourne towards the end there doing jobs on players and whatever was required … with the AFL experience he’s got, I think you utilise it as best you can,” coach Brendan Allen said.
Steven Slimming (Balwyn)
The 150-game Sturt premiership wingman moved to Melbourne this off-season for work and reunited with Balwyn coach Brenton Sanderson – who he played under in the AFL national academy almost a decade ago.
“He’s super quick, tough, left-footer, a really damaging kick and obviously with a lot of experience and a ton of talent,” Sanderson said.
Bowen Smith (Balwyn)
Best-afield in the Tigers’ two-point premiership win, the midfielder averaged some 25 disposals and seven clearances a game last season, earning a spot in the Team of the Year.
Maverick Taylor (Rowville)
Forty-two goals from 21 matches told the tale of the young spearhead’s 2024 to figure among the comp’s top forwards. Along with Lachy McDonald, he was one of the architects in attack behind the Hawks’ final-round rush to the finals in a narrow escape at Noble Park with two crucial last-quarter goals. Nudged to the bench in the Team of the Year, but expect to see ‘Mav’s’ name up in lights more in future.
Josh Tovey (East Ringwood)
One of the league’s brightest young talents, the former Eastern Ranges captain will pull on the royal blue and white this season after crossing from Norwood, following a Team of the Year nod on the wing – and best and fairest at the Norsemen. The highly-sought-after utility earned the praise of East Ringwood coach Ben Osborne: “He was unbelievable (last year). He played midfield for them (Norwood) and wants to play more – he just wants to keep playing the highest level he can.” Also featured in four VFL matches for Box Hill in 2024.
Tristan Tweedie (East Ringwood)
He has a lofty standard to uphold as one of the league’s top defenders, but the former Western Bulldogs rookie did so again last season with another Team of the Year honour. As crucial as any to the Roos in a campaign which fell two points short of the flag.
Jesse Uren (Mitcham)
Arguably the highest individual honour in footy is winning your club best and fairest in a premiership year, which Uren saluted in 2024 as the Tigers claimed back-to-back flags. Hauling in an average of 23.6 disposals, 10.8 contested possessions – and kicking 33 goals – the gritty midfielder looks primed to take on the league’s top division.
Caleb Van Oostveen (Berwick)
Named at full-back in the Team of the Year last season, the young gun has been a mainstay and linchpin in defence for the Wickers.
“He’s like our quarterback – he’s a stopper, but then he gets his own possessions … he’s getting 25 each week, uses the ball really well, very, very courageous,” outgoing Berwick coach Clint Evans said last year.
“He’s small, but puts his head where it probably shouldn’t be a few times down back to help out.”
Cal Verrell (Rowville)
The ex-Eastern Ranges captain dominated at centre half-back last year. Strongly built, a sound interceptor and clean by foot, he’ll be back full-time for Rowville this year following a stint on Carlton’s VFL list. “He’s an exceptional reader of the play, his ability to intercept or halve contests as a key defender shows maturity beyond his age,” Carlton development coach Tom Langford said last year.
Sam Weideman (Vermont)
Fresh off a decade-long stretch in the AFL which took in 76 games and 77 goals across Melbourne and Essendon, the key forward is raring to according to incoming Vermont coach Matt Adolph: “His leadership has been invaluable and the training standards has allowed our group to go to another level.”
Lachie Young (Balwyn)
Fresh off a season as co-captain of Carlton’s VFL side, the 25-year-old defender finished up in the state league last year but quickly found his way to Cherry Rd. His football CV took in a 47-game AFL stint across the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne following his pick No. 6 selection in the 2018 rookie draft. And he’ll serve as a playing assistant to Balwyn senior coach Brenton Sanderson this season.
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