Local footy Melbourne: The big player, coaching moves for 2019
Tom Bell’s move to Greensborough has been one of the biggest signings of the off-season. Here’s why he chose the Northern FL club. 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.
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LATEST HEADLINES
WHY TOM BELL CHOSE GREENSBOROUGH OVER RIVAL SUITORS
Tom Bell had no shortage of suitors when he was delisted by Brisbane. Here’s how he ended up at Greensborough.
KINGS SET TO FIELD NEW-LOOK SIDE IN EASTERN FL
Upper Ferntree Gully will field a more youthful outfit in 2019 after farewelling three of its best players in the off-season.
EX-VFL PLAYER INKS DEAL WITH EASTERN CLUB HEATHMONT
Heathmont’s playing stocks have received a significant boost, signing experienced midfielder Murphy Ambrose.
KEY DEPARTURES LEAVE HEIGHTS WITH AN ENORMOUS TASK
Avondale Heights has farewelled several key players over the off-season, leaving it with an enormous task to compete against the competition’s elite in 2019.
MT ELIZA BROTHERS HEADED TO EASTERN LEAGUE
Mt Eliza’s Freeman brothers are on the move to Eastern Football League clubs.
TRAVIS CLOKE SET FOR CAMEO APPEARANCE WITH TYABB
Former Collingwood star Travis Cloke has agreed to play for Tyabb in a cameo appearance.
WHY NATHAN THOMPSON IS RETURNING TO THE COACHES BOX
One of Kyneton’s favourite sons has been given the task of shaping the club’s future.
PLAYERS ON THE MOVE
VAFA
GLEN EIRA DETERMINED TO MAKE IMPACT AFTER FLAG
The last time Glen Eira went up to VAFA Division 2 it went straight back down.
This time around president Ivan “Moose’’ Delac is talking about consolidation to avoid a repeat of relegation.
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.
EX-AFL DEFENDER STRENGTHENS TIES WITH VAFA CLUB
The connection between VAFA Premier club Collegians and North Melbourne VFL has been strengthened further with the arrival of former AFL Roo Alex Morgan to the Lions.
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.
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.
NORTH FOOTSCRAY SET TO RELOAD WITH NEW FACES ON BOARD
North Footscray is set to field a new-look line-up in 2019 after a fruitful off-season recruiting spree.
NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
MACLEOD LOCKS IN EX-VFL ON-BALLER IN RECRUITING COUP
Macleod has continued its recruiting spree, adding another five quality signings.
CARUSO SWITCH GRANTED MORE THAN 120 DAYS AFTER SIGNING
Daniel Caruso is officially a Thomastown player. The pacy midfielder’s clearance from South Morang to Main Street Reserve was approved on Monday, ending several weeks of negotiations between the Northern Football League clubs.
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.
VFL MIDFIELDER COMMITS TO NORTHERN FL CLUB
Heidelberg’s list will be filled with P-plate drivers in 2019, geared towards a return to Northern Football League finals.
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.
EAST MALVERN’S FORWARD STOCKS BOOSTED
East Malvern caught only a glimpse of Justin Maddern last year. It will be seeing much more of the decorated full-forward in 2019.
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.
FLAG WINNERS RETURN TO STONECATS IN HUGE BOOST
There was something different about MPNFL grand final day last year. Frankston YCW was nowhere to be seen. The Stonecats are hell bent on ensuring that doesn’t happen again.
WHY DROMANA CAN SURPRISE AFTER DIVISION 2 PREMIERSHIP
Dromana coach Rikki Johnston says the Tigers can “surprise a few people’’ when they step up to MPNFL Division 1 this year.
ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREMIER EDFL MIDFIELDER MAKES CALL ON PLAYING FUTURE
Champion midfielder Luke Blackwell has decided whether to call time on his playing career at Aberfeldie.
WEST COBURG REVEALS MAJOR SIGNINGS FOR 2019
West Coburg coach Dale May is trumpeting the EDFL club’s young talent after an eventful off-season.
GRAND FINALIST FACES TOUGH ASK TO FILL HOLES
East Sunbury could lose three key players as it looks to its emerging young crop for improvement after last season’s grand final appearance.
RECRUITING BOOST FOR EDFL CLUB OAK PARK
Oak Park’s bid to climb the EDFL Division 1 ladder has received a major boost with the acquisition of a star midfielder.
BEST AND FAIREST WINNER’S PROPOSED MOVE TO BE BLOCKED
Maribyrnong Park will block Zac Keogh’s bid to link up with EDFL Premier Division rival Greenvale. Here’s why.
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
GRIMES MAKES MOVE TO EASTERN FL CLUB
Former Melbourne captain Jack Grimes is set to join brothers Tom and Nathan in the Eastern Football League.
LEAGUE BEST AND FAIREST AMONG DEPARTURES FROM KILSYTH
Kilsyth will be without nearly half its senior team from last year when it begins its Eastern Football League Division 4 campaign.
FAIRPARK OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FINALS HOPES IN EASTERN FL
Fairpark coach Sean Stanton expects the Lions to be one of the beneficiaries of the Eastern Football League restructure after landing a long list of recruits.
WAFL STAR BOLSTERS CLUB’S PREMIERSHIP ASSAULT
Decorated WAFL star Chris Phelan has joined Doncaster East in a major boost to the Lions’ bid to join the Eastern Football League’s top-flight for the first time in the club’s history.
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.
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.
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.
SHARKS SIGN PROVEN FINALS PERFORMER
RUPERTSWOOD has landed a proven finals performer as it strives to challenge for a maiden Riddell District Football League premiership.
THREE AFL PLAYERS OFFER SUPPORT TO VFL CLUB 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.
SCHWAB LANDS A NEW COACHING ROLE
FOURTEEN years after he steered Hawthorn in the AFL, Peter Schwab is returning to coaching ranks, accepting a position in the VAFA.
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
BELGRAVE ENERGISED AHEAD OF START OF AFL OUTER EAST SEASON
If the enthusiasm shown by newly-appointed coach Nathan Johns is any indication, expect Belgrave to be jumping out of its skin by the first bounce of the AFL Outer-East season.
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.
EMERALD’S NEW COACH OUTLINES HIS VISION FOR AFL OUTER EAST CLUB
Emerald will look to the experience gained in recent years by successful junior mentor Jamie Marshall as it takes the field for the inaugural AFL Outer-East season.
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
DONVALE PREMIERSHIP COACH MOVES INTERSTATE
Donvale will be without captain-coach Matt Fife this season after the premiership mentor relocated back to Queensland.
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.
Grand final latest: Appeals, injuries and shock selections
There is no shortage of news in the lead-up to country footy grand finals with one club mounting a last-ditch attempt to have a star player available.