Local footy: Top EFNL, EDFL, MPFNL, NFNL, RDFL, SFL, WRFL recruits named
They may be wearing unfamiliar jumpers in 2022 but these gun recruits are providing enormous value for their new clubs. Check out our list of the best performing local footy recruits of 2022.
Local Footy
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The local footy season is now in full swing with the halfway point quickly approaching.
Across metropolitan Melbourne and its outskirts, new faces have been lighting it up for their new clubs.
Here are some of the best.
EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ANTHONY BROLIC (Rowville)
Hasn‘t missed a beat for the Hawks and has been a key driver behind his side’s undefeated run after five rounds. The Box Hill premiership star has picked up where he left off at the Eastern league club. He has featured in the best in three of the five appearances including a best afield display against top-four rival South Croydon. Brolic won Rowville’s best and fairest in 2019 following his 2018 VFL flag with Box Hill, and he was named in the VFL Team of the Year in 2017. He stepped away from Frankston at the end of last season and has slotted back into the Eastern league seamlessly. As important to Rowville as any.
CHRIS HORTON-MILNE (Noble Park)
Fresh off a Southern league best and fairest, the midfielder has made a welcome return to the Bulls to complement an already potent line-up. It was a scary prospect for opposition clubs to face a midfield consisting of Kyle Martin and Jack Sketcher in recent years, but the left-footer has added a further hard edge to the engine room. Has been among the best in four of five matches as the Bulls currently sit inside the top five.
BRAYDEN KILPATRICK (South Croydon)
Has played every match for the Bulldogs so far this season straight from a VFL career which netted a flag with the Box Hill Hawks in 2018 among a six-year stretch. He’s no stranger to the club having previously been aligned to it during his state league days, but South is certainly seeing the benefits of the midfielder now on a full-time basis. His season has been highlighted by a bag of four majors in a best afield display against Park Orchards in Round 3.
ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
HAYDEN CLARKE (Glenroy)
Despite his side’s struggles to start the season, Clarke has been one of the few shining lights after arriving from Ovens and Murray club Wodonga Raiders. His best performance of the season came against Strathmore while he was also heavily influential in the Roys’ first win over Avondale Heights at the weekend.
TIM CURRIE (Aberfeldie)
After joining his Williamstown VFL premiership teammate Adam Marcon at Abers, Currie has made a seamless transition into the competition. He’s proven to be a player who can impact the contest at both ends of the ground — highlighted by his first two goals for the club against Glenroy.
SHAUN MCKERNAN (Tullamarine)
Another former AFL player to return to his former club in the off-season. McKernan has lit up Division 1 so far this season and looms as arguably the most pivotal piece in the Demons’ premiership chances. He has been named in the best in all six games and has kicked multiple goals in four of those. Despite looming as a key forward for most of the season, he has also been used in the ruck giving his side a strong aerial dominance.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA LEAGUE
RYAN BASTINAC (Pearcedale)
The former AFL Kangaroo and Lion lives in Brisbane and flies down each week to play for the Dales, who are glad he does because he’s been superb, racking up huge numbers, running all day and helping Pearcedale to a 4-2 start.
BRANDON WHITE (Devon Meadows)
Hit the ground running with three best-on-ground displays, the former St Kilda left-footer has taken the competition by storm. He’s dominated in the centre and up forward where he’s kicked 16 goals, including two bags of five.
NICK BATTLE (Devon Meadows)
Battle has been in the Panthers’ best players in five of their six games so far, the ex-Beaconsfield star showing off his elite endurance, run and footy smarts.
DANIEL GORMLEY (Dromana)
The experienced Gormley has been an excellent addition for the Tigers after crossing over from Heatherton. He was one of the Tigers’ best in their win over Frankston YCW first-up and has maintained his form throughout the first six weeks.
KURT LOPO (Edithvale-Aspendale)
Hard, quick and agile, the former EFNL star has been exceptional for the Eagles, figuring in their best players in five games so far.
NATHAN SCAGLIARINI (Mt Eliza)
The former Frankston Dolphins VFL player has made a sledgehammer impact, helping the Redlegs to top spot after six rounds. Gets plenty of the ball, uses it well and has kicked multiple goals on five occasions already.
LIAM MCKENNA (Rosebud)
The former Essendon VFL midfielder has been a standout for the Buds with his toughness and attack on the footy.
NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NICK MILNE (Old Eltham Collegians)
The forward stepped down from Division 1 club Hurstbridge in the off-season and has had an immediate impact at the Turtles. Milne‘s class and experience has been telling in Collegians’ rise up the ladder and 5-1 start. The spearhead has booted 24 goals in six games, including a haul of 13 against Lalor, to lead the Division 3 goalkicking race.
LIAM WALE-BUXTON (Montmorency)
Came across from Eastern power Vermont with much fanfare and hasn‘t disappointed. The Magpies look so much more dangerous with Wale-Buxton patrolling the middle of the ground but the star big man is also capable of hitting the scoreboard, highlighted by three goals in the Round 6 win over North Heidelberg. His importance to Garry Ramsay’s team evidenced by five mentions in the best from five appearances.
ALEX BOYSE (Northcote Park)
The key position utility has been excellent at both ends of the ground since arriving from Essendon Doutta Stars. Boyse impressed on debut against Montmorency playing as an intercept marking defender in wet weather conditions but has shown he can also make an impact up forward, booting five goals in the Cougars‘ first win of the season against Macleod and then six majors in the Round 6 win over Hurstbridge.
OUTER EAST LEAGUE
CHAYCE BLACK (Wandin)
The former Rowville and Box Hill Hawks on-baller has given the Bulldogs a lot of drive out of the middle and off half back, and his kicking skills have been exceptional. Had 36 touches against ladder leaders Narre Warren.
JOSH WEIGHTMAN (Seville)
The former East Ringwood two-time best and fairest winner has had a big impact with the undefeated Blues. He rarely goes to ground and his ability to step sideways and dash away with the ball and then set up goals is uncanny. And rival clubs are starting to get to know how damaging he can be.
RIDDELL DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
MITCH JENSEN (Riddell)
Was one of the competition‘s most dangerous forwards in his short stint at Romsey, kicking 43 goals in nine games, and has returned to the Riddell District as more of a midfield threat. Jensen has just 12 goals in five appearances, including a bag of five against Melton Centrals but has made a bigger impact up the ground for the Bombers. Along with Dylan Tarczon and Andrew Duhau, has been a key factor in the club’s sensational 5-1 start.
DECLAN PHYLAND (Macedon)
Despite Macedon‘s early-season struggles, Phyland has stood out with his class in the forward line. The Cats’ recruit has been the club’s best player in the Round 1 loss to Riddell and Round 3 loss to Diggers Rest and has booted eight majors. His experience and leadership will be critical if the club is to jump back up the ladder and vie for a premiership.
ADAM TOMAC (Melton Centrals)
Got a big rap from new Blues coach Mark Pedersen before the season and has lived up to expectations in the early rounds. The hard-nosed defender-midfielder has been among Centrals‘ best in three of five appearances and has been a key factor in the club’s clear on-field improvement. In his first season of senior football after playing under-19s at Melton last season.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE
OLLIE MORAN (Cheltenham)
Moran has enhanced his reputation as an exciting young prospect by consistently featuring in the Rosellas’ best players since joining them from Mentone Grammar in the off season.
MICHAEL DOLAN (Dingley)
The former VAFA forward has booted 12 goals in three games and quickly formed a strong bond with Justin Van Unen in the Dingoes attack.
MATT BLAIR (Springvale Districts)
The quality young ruckman has quickly made his mark, consistently giving his Demons mids first use of the ball and also impressing around the ground.
MICHAEL CARDAMONE (Doveton)
The Doves’ new playing-coach has kicked 17 goals to help his side to a dream 5-0 start.
WILL BARRON (Highett)
The former St Kevin’s APS captain and St Bede’s Mentone Tiger has been best on ground in nearly every game so far for the Bulldogs.
STEVE TOLONGS (Murrumbeena)
The former Ormond and Mordialloc forward has fired off 32 goals, including a bag of 11 against Clayton, to lead the Division 3 goal kicking table.
VAFA
ANDREW HORNE (PEGS)
Arrives at PEGS after eight seasons with EDFL powerhouse Strathmore. Horne comes with an incredible football resume that includes a best-and-fairest at Calder Cannons, VFL experience at Coburg and SANFL experience with South Adelaide. The experienced midfielder has been named in PEGS‘ best three times in six appearances and is a major factor in the club’s undefeated start to its VAFA Division 1 campaign.
JEREMY GODDARD (Uni Blues)
The defender linked up with his brother Hugh at Uni Blues after spending 2021 with Old Melburnians. Despite his pedigree, arrived without the fanfare of ex-AFL star Marty Gleeson and perhaps flies under the radar alongside Hugh, Cam O‘Shea and Sam Grimley but has been excellent in defence.
ED GREENE (Collegians)
Joined Collegians from Southern Division 1 club St Kilda City and has made an immediate impact in VAFA Premier Division. The brother of GWS star Toby currently sits third on the competition‘s goalkicking list with 15 majors from six appearances. The dangerous forward has booted multiple goals in five of those matches with a best of four against Old Scotch.
MAX KENNEDY (Old Brighton)
Has made a seamless transition from Premier C to Premier A after several seasons with Ormond. Old Brighton sits second on the ladder and is not an easy 22 to crack but Kennedy has impressed with his past fortnight particularly strong, earning back-to-back mentions in the best and kicking three goals.
WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE
RYAN ALLAN (Caroline Springs)
After crossing from EDFL powerhouse Aberfeldie, Allan has shown why he was one of the top players in that competition to lead the WRFL goalkicking charts with 25 majors. After being held goalless in the opening game against Deer Park, Allan immediately responded with 11 majors in a big win over Yarraville Seddon. Josh Cubillo, who also crossed to the club with him, has been equally as impressive.
CONNOR MENADUE (Altona)
The Vikings couldn’t have asked for much more from the former Richmond and North Melbourne player following his return to his junior club. Playing as a midfielder, Menadue has been nothing short of dominant having been named in the best in five out of six games. He has also kicked 16 goals, although it’s two less than his brother Joel has booted.
MITCH PALMA (Point Cook Centrals)
Was one of the headline recruits for the Sharks in the off-season as they chase a Division 2 premiership. The Division 1 Team of the Year player has been a star in the middle of the ground with his class a standout in the opening six games. With 11 goals to his name for the season, Palma has already equalled his previous senior footy best he set at Hoppers Crossing in 2019.
WEST GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
CURTIS MURFETT (Dalyston)
The former Southern league star has been a shining light for the Magpies, appearing five times in their best players in the first six games.
NIC VISSER (Warragul Industrials)
The former Poowong midfielder has been in red-hot form, named in the Dusties’ best players in all five games he’s played.
NATHAN FOOTE (Kilcunda Bass)
The tough and hard-at-it midfielder has been one of the Panthers’ leading players in the opening six games, setting high standards.
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