Local footy Melbourne: The big player, coaching moves for 2019
An ex-AFL big man has joined the long list of elite players calling VAFA clubs home. LOCAL FOOTY OFF-SEASON HQ
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Welcome to Local Footy off-season HQ, your home of the latest coaching and player movements in metropolitan footy.
While the on-field action might be over for another year, there is still plenty happening off the field. Keep checking in to stay up to date with all the player and coaching movements from your local club.
LATEST HEADLINES
OLD SCOTCH BOLSTERS RANKS IN BID TO BOUNCE BACK
Old Scotch has earmarked the coming VAFA Premier B campaign as a season of redemption.
CROYDON BACKS EMERGING TALENT TO PROSPER
Croydon will continue to back the development of its homegrown players as it looks to challenge the second-tier’s top sides this year.
BROTHERS SIGN ON AT REIGNING RDFL PREMIER
Brothers Luke and Todd Delahey have signed with reigning premier Diggers Rest as the club builds toward a tilt at back-to-back Riddell District Football League flags.
TOUGH ON-BALLER CROSSES FROM WRFL TO MACEDON
Dual Sunshine best and fairest Matthew Hutchesson has crossed to Macedon in a major boost for the Riddell District Football League club’s midfield stocks.
GUN RECRUIT EXPLAINS MOVE TO EDFL POWERHOUSE
Aberfeldie’s insatiable appetite for success is not lost on marquee recruit Jaryd Cachia.
FROM SUCCESS-STARVED CLUB TO FLAG FAVOURITE
East Burwood will enter the Division 4 season as premiership favourites as it looks to build on last year’s preliminary final appearance.
PREMIERSHIP PLAYER UNLIKELY TO LINE UP FOR EFL CLUB
Doncaster East is preparing to be without premiership star Dillon Viojo-Rainbow this year after the former Carlton-listed player signed with Footscray.
PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
VAFA
JARRAD WAITE CHOOSES HIS NEXT CLUB
EVER since Jarrad Waite announced his retirement from the AFL touts around the local football traps have been linking him with North Heidelberg and Sorrento.
But the former Carlton and North Melbourne forward is heading neither north nor south.
VAFA CLUB KEEN ON FORMER DOCKER BALIC
Forget about tall tallies of possessions or bags of goals. Above all else, Parkdale Vultures coach Owen Lalor would like Harley Balic to rediscover his love of the game.
EX-LION CONFIRMS RUMOURS BY JOINING VAFA CLUB
WEEKS of speculation about former Brisbane Lion Rohan Bewick joining the VAFA have turned to fact — he will play in the Premier section next season.
WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE
EX-AFL PLAYER JOINS DIVISION 2 GRAND FINALIST
YARRAVILLE-Seddon coach Vinnie Turcinovich has identified a lack of leadership as a key factor in the club’s shock grand final loss after the Eagles unveiled Andrejs Everitt as their first signing of the off-season.
NEW SIGNINGS FOR WRFL GRAND FINALIST
There have no signs of any lingering disappointment on the training track at Yarraville-Seddon.
FIVE RECRUITS TO BOOST PARKSIDE’S SQUAD
TWO premiership players are among a group of recruits headed to Parkside for 2019.
EX-BULLDOG JOINS WRFL POWERHOUSE
Powerhouse Deer Park’s quest for a seventh consecutive Western Region Football League Division 1 premiership has received a significant boost.
NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
209CM RUCKMAN HAS TALL AIMS FOR NORTHCOTE PARK
Kyle Galloway hopes his decision to sign with Northcote Park will provide a springboard to relaunch his AFL career.
VENDITTI BULLISH ABOUT BUNDOORA’S MIDFIELD
Boom recruit Daniel Venditti has declared Bundoora’s star-studded midfield can lead the club to Northern Football League glory this year.
BELL SIGNING SOUNDS LOUD WARNING TO BORO RIVALS
Greensborough has landed one of the signings of the Northern Football League off-season, adding former Brisbane Lion and Carlton midfielder Tom Bell on a two-year deal.
EX-AFL FORWARD RETIRES AFTER PREMIERSHIP SUCCESS
Premiership hero Patrick Karnezis has opted to finish his playing career on a high, retiring in the wake of West Preston-Lakeside’s grand final success.
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SANDRINGHAM VICE-CAPTAIN LINKS WITH CHELTENHAM
DYLAN Weickhardt played one match for Cheltenham in the Southern league this year. And the Sandringham VFL vice-captain dominated it.
TWO RECRUITS JOIN PREMIERSHIP SIDE
AFTER celebrating his club’s premiership success, Springvale Districts coach Kris Thompson turned his mind to 2019 and the prospect of playing in a higher division. He’s added two recruits to help with that challenge.
VFL CO-CAPTAIN SIGNS ON THE DOTTED LINE
Three weeks after signing Sandringham vice-captain Dylan Weickhardt, a SFL club has now landed an experienced VFL co-captain.
HAMPTON LOCKS IN DECORATED PAIR
HAMPTON coach Craig McIndoe has a fair idea of the ability of his new signings Lew Roberts and Brad Ulms.
VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
COBURG CAPTAIN CROSSES TO RIVAL PORT MELBOURNE
IN terms of recruiting, it’s a good win for Port Melbourne.
The Borough have secured the services of a former Coburg captain and VFL representative to boost their ruck division.
AFL PROSPECT LIAM HUNT FINDS A NEW VFL CLUB
COBURG best and fairest winner Liam Hunt will resume his VFL career next year in the hope of reigniting his AFL draft ambitions.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN LEAGUE
LAMB HEADS BACK TO WHERE CAREER STARTED
FORMER West Coast Eagle Tom Lamb is going back to where it all began next year.
NAHAS JOINS EX-AFL TEAMMATE AT NEW CLUB
FORMER AFL small forward Robin Nahas will be a Python in season 2019 after signing with a MPNFL club.
JUNIOR CLUB ROLLS OUT WELCOME MAT FOR HARTUNG
BILLY Hartung’s junior club is keen to secure his return after the former Hawk and Roo was delisted by North Melbourne.
GIBSON LOCKED IN AS HUGE SIGNING FOR SORRENTO
FORMER North Melbourne and Adelaide Crows midfielder Sam Gibson has found a new football home, signing with Sorrento.
ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SAINTS RAMP UP PREPARATIONS FOR EDFL CAMPAIGN
Northern Saints coach Brett Kennerley is enthused about his club’s prospects this season despite the loss of gun forward Rocky Ferraro.
CLOKE’S NEW COACH BUOYED BY RETURNING STAR’S IMPACT
Jacana coach Matthew Huy has warned rival clubs star recruit Cameron Cloke will not be easily blanketed this season.
VFL PROSPECT INKS DEAL WITH STARS IN RECRUITING COUP
Top prospect Campbell Wearne has put pen to paper with Essendon Doutta Stars in a significant acquisition for the EDFL Premier Division club.
RUCK DUO TO BE KEY FOR EAGLES UNDER WHITNALL
Craigieburn coach Lance Whitnall has reason to be rubbing his hands together in anticipation for the start of the Essendon District Football League Division 1 season.
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
MUSTANGS WAVE GOODBYE TO KEY PERSONNEL
Mooroolbark will look to promote its promising youth this year as it sets itself to bounce back from an underwhelming 2018.
HAWKS KEEP PREMIERSHIP SIDE TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER TILT
Boronia will tackle 2019 with effectively the same group that took it to a surprise Division 3 premiership last year.
BALWYN LANDS NORTHERN LEAGUE SKIPPER
Balwyn plans to rely on local talent rather than high-profile signings to return to Eastern Football League finals, but has landed one marquee signature.
NOBLE PARK BOOSTS RANKS WITH MORE VFL TALENT
Noble Park’s list of VFL players grows ever longer. The Bulls’ off-season recruiting has featured Casey Demons, Frankston Dolphins and Richmond Tigers, and now there’s a Box Hill Hawks connection.
RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
KEY RECRUIT LANDS AT WOODEND-HESKET
WOODEND-HESKET is confident it has developed a list capable of challenging for a top-four finish, with an EDFL premiership defender its key recruit.
FOREMAN RETURNS TO RDFL GRAND FINALIST
A GOALKICKING midfielder has returned to Riddell as the club plots another premiership assault under co-coaches Justin Belleville and Jamie Elliot.
WALLAN SIGNS PROVEN PREMIERSHIP PERFORMER
Wallan has raided the Heathcote District league for a second time this off-season to add premiership experience to its list.
VFL DEFENDER NATHAN BLAIR RELISHING RETURN TO ROMSEY
Key recruit Nathan Blair has backed Romsey to emerge as a genuine flag contender this season, having returned to the club after a five-year VFL stint with Coburg.
THE LATEST COACHING NEWS
BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SUNBURY ended weeks of speculation about its vacant coaching position by appointing a Bacchus Marsh premiership mentor for 2019.
ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SAINTS OUT TO MOVE ON FROM OFF-FIELD ISSUES
NORTHERN Saints have produced two strong seasons on field, but the EDFL club is hoping to put issues off the ground behind it after installing a new-look committee, led by energetic president Joe Antonetti, and locking in a new coach.
EX-BOMBER APPOINTED STARS COACH
ESSENDON Doutta Stars is capable of becoming a much more formidable opponent in Essendon District Football League Premier Division next season after narrowly escaping relegation, says its new coach.
MARIBYRNONG PARK SIGNS EX-AFL COACH
Maribyrnong Park’s new coach has declared his ambition to lift the club back to the top of Essendon District Football League Premier Division after putting pen to paper on a two-year deal.
NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIERSHIP PLAYER NAMED EPPING’S NEW COACH
Aaron Johnson will call on the wisdom of coaching guru Robert Hyde after being thrust into the Epping hot seat.
RAMSAY THE MAN FOR MONTMORENCY
THE rumours were true. Montmorency has landed the prized signature of a Northern Football League premiership coach.
STURGESS TAKES THE REINS AT BUNDOORA
TWO days after welcoming his first child, Andrew Sturgess capped an unforgettable week by being unveiled as Bundoora’s new coach.
HOUSE EXPLAINS DECISION TO STAND DOWN FROM BULLDOGS
North Heidelberg has started its search for a new senior coach after the sudden resignation of Jimmy House.
VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
AITKEN REJOINS KEW IN COACHING COUP
A THREE-time Kew premiership coach will return to Victoria Park in 2019.
NFL PREMIERSHIP WINNER TAKES ON OLD PARADIANS JOB
A FOUR-TIME premiership winner will return to his football roots after being appointed as Old Paradians’ VAFA coach.
WEST BRUNSWICK COACH TO LEAN ON FLAG MENTOR
West Brunswick’s new VAFA coach certainly fits the bill.
ST MARY’S SALESIAN LOCKS IN NEW VAFA COACH
A prodigal son has returned to take the senior coaching reins at VAFA Division 1 club St Marys Salesian.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SEAFORD MOVES QUICKLY TO LOCK IN NEW MENTOR
SEAFORD has had a change of coach, with Ben Murphy stepping down and the Tigers playing-assistant taking over the reins for 2019.
KIRKWOOD THE MAN TO STEER RYE FOR NEXT TWO SEASONS
ADAM Kirkwood has taken on another challenge after being appointed Rye playing-coach for the next two seasons.
CRIB POINT LOCKS IN NEW MENTOR FOR 2019
AFTER 10 years away from coaching, Crib Point’s new mentor says he is revitalised and can’t wait to get to work at the Magpies.
BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD FOR PEARCEDALE UNDER NEW MENTOR
A SELF-DESCRIBED “footy nut’’ who has been playing, coaching or watching football for as long as he can remember has been appointed Pearcedale’s new coach.
AFL OUTER EAST
KINGLAKE BUOYED AS PLAYING COACH FAIRCHILD SIGNS ON
KINGLAKE has lauded its new coach as a “perfect fit” for its developing senior group.
WOORI YALLOCK POACHES A RIVAL COACH
The desire to freshen up after four years at the helm of one club has seen a veteran coach sign on as Woori Yallock’s new mentor for the coming season.
SEVILLE PAIR CROSS TO LILYDALE
Lilydale will lean on internal improvement if it is to again challenge for promotion to the Eastern Football League top tier.
WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PARKSIDE’S COACHING STRUCTURE FOR 2019 DECIDED
PARKSIDE’S coach has praised the contribution of the club’s outgoing mentor.
NORTH FOOTSCRAY COACH MAKES CALL ON SECOND SEASON
NORTH Footscray coach Jonathan Miller has been lauded for his “selflessness” after making a call on whether to continue for a second year at the Western Region Football League club.
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
WHY BORG HAS TAKEN REINS AT GLEN WAVERLEY
CON Borg has made his name in the Northern Football League. But in 2019 he will call the Eastern Football League home.
APPRENTICESHIP KEY FOR DONVALE’S NEW COACH
Dennet Merton has slowly made his way down Doncaster Rd, serving as an assistant at Doncaster and Doncaster East since 2012 before landing his first senior gig.
WANTIRNA SOUTH COACH OUTLINES VISION
Steve Cochrane was a coach in demand. Here’s why he chose Wantirna South.
EXPERIENCED EFL MENTOR BACK IN COACHES BOX
Paris Harvie has been thrust into the top job at North Ringwood after the shock resignation of Brett Moyle.
SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
SOUGHT-AFTER GILBEE COMMITS TO PORT COLTS
WHAT a recruiting coup for Port Melbourne Colts and the Southern Football Netball League.
The Colts have appointed a former Western Bulldogs star and AFL assistant coach for 2019.
PREMIERSHIP PLAYERS RETURN TO MOORABBIN
MOORABBIN has enticed two former premiership players back to Widdop Crescent as it plots a path back to Southern league success.
O’KEEFE SIGNS ON AS CAULFIELD’S NEW MENTOR
HIS resume was outstanding and his referees gave him glowing endorsements. It’s no wonder this mentor landed the Caulfield coaching job.
VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
FRANKSTON PROMOTES DANNY RYAN TO SENIOR ROLE
HE’S been an assistant at a number of clubs. Now Danny Ryan has landed his first head coaching role in Victorian football.
Hill’s hopes to shortcut concussion protocols hits roadblock
AFL Victoria has revealed its verdict on a bid by one of local footy’s best players to avoid missing playing in a grand final by one day. Here’s what we know.
Appeal dismissed: Shepparton’s major grand final setback
Shepparton Bears’ star Luke Smith has had his appeal into a two-match ban heard late today. See the outcome.