Revealed: The biggest and best Eastern league recruits this off-season

There’s been no shortage of top-drawer recruits putting pen to paper at Eastern league clubs this off-season, from ex-AFL stars to state league talents and more. We’ve named the best.

Is there a better recruit in local footy this off-season than triple flag Hawk Liam Shiels? Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Eastern league clubs have been busy.

There’s been no shortage of top-drawer recruits putting pen to paper this off-season, from ex-AFL stars to state league talents and more. We’ve named the best ...

Jake Aarts (Beaconsfield)

He was one of the most sought-after signatures of the off-season – but the ex-Richmond midfielder and small forward has returned to his junior club fresh off two years with MPFNL power Dromana, winning a league best and fairest and Division 1 flag in 2023 before featuring in another grand final this year.

The 29-year-old played 42 AFL matches for Richmond from 2019-2022, after he was snapped up in the ‘19 rookie draft following stops at Bendigo and the Tigers in the state league.

Jake Aarts playing for Dromana. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Jordy Andrews (Berwick)

Almost 500 goals has returned, with the club favourite back 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.

James Appleby (Heathmont)

Heads turned and eyebrows raised when the Jets unveiled the Doncaster East co-captain as a recruit. The tough inside midfielder featured in Doncaster East’s 2018 and ’19 Division 1 premierships amid its rise to the league’s top-flight for the first time in its history.

Heathmont coach Scott Hamill was excited by the prospect of having powerhouse ruckman and former AFL Bulldog Nathan Mullenger-McHugh feeding Appleby through the middle next season.

“A tough, inside mid and a very good ball-user as well … he’s going to be a tough match-up for the opposition and someone who’ll complement us and our midfield really well,” he said.

“Him and (ruckman) Nathan Mullenger-McHugh linking up through there is going to be a great combination.”

Matthew Bate (Norwood)

In a boost for the Norsemen, former AFL Demon Matthew Bate has returned. Bate played 102 games for Melbourne from 2005-2012 before winning a premiership with Norwood in 2014 in the league’s top division.

Aiden Begg (North Ringwood)

Straight from Collingwood where he spent three-and-a-half years, exciting young tall Aiden Begg has returned to Quambee Reserve.

The 200cm Begg was snapped up by the Magpies with pick 18 in the 2021 mid-season draft after more than 100 junior games at the Saints and two years at the Eastern Ranges.

He played three AFL matches as well as 34 in the state league before a knee injury spelt the end of his time at the top level this season.

Former Magpie Aiden Begg is back at North Ringwood. Picture: Collingwood FC

Josh Bennetts (Rowville)

Back after two seasons on Hawthorn’s list, the small forward made his senior debut at local level in 2022 and was snared as a Category B rookie soon after – but didn’t play a senior AFL match. The 20-year-old has also aligned with Collingwood VFL and should provide the Hawks plenty of spark when available.

Liam Buxton (Vermont)

Widely regarded as one of local footy’s top ruckmen, Buxton was the first major signing under new Vermont coach Matt Adolph. Last playing for the club in 2018 before stops at Montmorency and Sorrento, he finished runner-up for the Northern league’s Division 1 best and fairest in 2023 and made the Team of the Year.

He played 18 games for Sorrento in the MPFNL’s top-flight this year, also featured in Vermont’s 2018 premiership and represented the Eastern league on multiple occasions.

Jordan Church (Boronia)

The young and recently-crowned Ferntree Gully best and fairest crosses to the club where his dad, Russell, won a club champion award.

Playing as a defender, this year Jordan averaged some 21 disposals, 9.4 contested possessions, eight intercept possessions and five marks a game from half-back.

And he’s also in the sights of VFL club Casey.

Blair Hudson (Heathmont)

Just weeks after plucking prized Premier Division co-captain James Appleby out of Doncaster East, the Jets repeated the dose with the signing of Hudson, Norwood’s vice-captain. The defender played more than 100 senior matches for the Norsemen and could be used in a variety of roles at Heathmont next season, according to coach Scott Hamill.

“He’ll be a versatile utility for us. He will supply us with a lot of run and carry, he’s quite tall as well, and he’ll complement the other recruits we’ve got.”

Brayden Laplanche (Montrose)

The ex-Eastern Ranges captain has found his way to Division 1 outfit Montrose – coached by Gary Ayres – crossing from Premier Division power, Rowville. Often featured as a key back or third tall defender at the Hawks, he’s one of the league’s top young guns and boasts plenty of weapons – lightning-quick pace, versatility on talls or smalls, and a strong presence at the contest.

Jett Latchford (South Croydon)

It’s been some rise for the young gun after bursting onto the senior footy scene in recent seasons. The Box Hill VFL-listed tall has signed on from Division 2 club Ringwood – and he’s set to pick up a family legacy at the Bulldogs – he’s the son of South Croydon great, Scott Latchford.

Playing most of the year in Eastern’s Division 2, Jett was in Ringwood’s best more often than not – and cracked two state league matches with the Hawks.

Jarrod Lienert (Balwyn)

The former Port Adelaide and St Kilda key defender played 34 AFL games from 2018 to 2022 before joining North Melbourne’s VFL program last year – and has aligned with the Tigers for next season. Balwyn coach Brenton Sanderson is well aware he may not see much of the tall talent, but he’ll still feature where possible.

“We’re going to get as many games with him as we can … it won’t be a full-time role with us, it’ll be part-time, and then hopefully he can be available for us for finals. He’ll be awesome for us,” Sanderson said.

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.

Matt Mariani (Templestowe)

The Eastern league legend is back at Porter St.

Mariani, who won a third senior league best and fairest in 2019 to earn legend status, crosses from Division 2 rival East Burwood. Two of his league gongs came at the Dockers (2014, ’16) where he last played in 2017.

The nuggety inside midfielder has played more than 250 senior matches across Templestowe, Whitehorse and East Burwood.

Daniel McKenzie (Blackburn)

The former AFL Saint is back where it all began, returning to the Burners where he played his juniors. The versatile midfielder-defender, now 28, featured in 73 matches for St Kilda from 2015-2023 before spending last season with VFL club Port Melbourne.

Hugo Munn (Doncaster)

South Australian state league tall Hugo Munn has landed at Schramms Reserve, crossing from Central Districts where he played more than 50 games.

A nice size at 197cm, he’s touted as a contested marking forward who can ruck.

James Parsons (Park Orchards)

The ex-AFL Cat is set to inject experience into the Sharks’ midfield and attack, putting pen to paper at the Division 1 club for the 2025 season. Parsons played 35 games for Geelong from 2017 to ’19 before state league stints with the Box Hill Hawks and Carlton.

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.

Liam Shiels (South Croydon)

Local clubs came calling from far and wide once the triple AFL premiership star’s 15-year, 288-game career across Hawthorn and North Melbourne drew to a close at the end of this season.

The midfielder played junior football at The Basin before winning his way onto an AFL list – but a connection to South Croydon player and former Eastern Ranges teammate Jayden Cass was enough to seal the deal.

Steven Slimming (Balwyn)

The 150-game Sturt premiership wingman recently moved to Melbourne for work and reunites 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.

Hayden Smith (Montrose)

The Dees have snared one of the league’s most exciting young prospects, with former Eastern Ranges and VFL-listed talent Hayden Smith crossing from Division 2 club The Basin.

He exhibits great versatility on the wing, on-ball and up forward and put up a whopping 11 mentions in the Bears’ best from 15 games in 2024 on the way to a second consecutive best and fairest.

Jaidyn Stephenson (Ferntree Gully)

Just weeks after his shock AFL retirement at 25, the 2018 AFL Rising Star winner headed back to where it all began – Ferntree Gully. He’ll serve as a playing assistant coach at the Division 3 club. The livewire follows in the footsteps of father Darren, who was a star for the Eagles through the 1980s and ‘90s, winning a best and fairest in ’89. Stephenson, a former first-round draft pick, played 122 matches across Collingwood and North Melbourne and kicked 130 goals.

Jaidyn Stephenson is back at FTG. Pic: Michael Klein

Jake Sticca (Bulleen Templestowe)

Fresh off a premiership with top-flight power Balwyn, the goal-sneak has returned to his junior club for its maiden Eastern season. The midfielder played 30 senior matches for Balwyn across a four-year stretch – including 15 last season.

Clay Tucker (South Belgrave)

The recently delisted Hawthorn tall lands at the Saints after he was selected by the Hawks in the 2023 mid-season rookie draft. The 204cm, 99kg Rowville and Lysterfield spent most of the past two seasons at VFL affiliate, Box Hill.

Sam Weideman (Vermont)

The phone ran hot with offers once he was delisted after 76 games across eight years – but only one local club was going to do, with the forward returning to the Eagles where he played junior football.

The 197cm talent was snared by Melbourne with pick No. 9 in the 2015 draft via the Eastern Ranges after carving out 130 junior games with Vermont from 2005 to ’13.

He spent the past two seasons with Essendon and remained connected to the Premier Division club during his AFL stay, often attending functions, matches and junior training.

And he’ll be one-pointer.

EFNL 2024: Sam Weideman has signed at Vermont. Picture: Supplied

Tom Wilson (Park Orchards)

The five-time VFL club best and fairest and current Magpie has aligned with the Sharks, bringing more than 150 games of state league experience to the club. And he could even see more time at local level in 2025 after three matches for North Ringwood in 2024.

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 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.