NFL 2018: Ex-Swan Kyle Galloway signs with Northcote Park
ONE of the tallest players ever to be listed by an AFL club has joined Northcote Park.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
ONE of the tallest players ever to be listed by an AFL club has joined Northcote Park.
Former Sydney Swans rookie Kyle Galloway, who stands 209cm, has put pen to paper with the Northern Football League club for 2019.
The 21-year-old is two centimetres shorter than Collingwood’s American forward Mason Cox and Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands.
NFL 2018: ASH CLOSE BRINGS OUT ‘THE MOOSE’ CELEBRATION
NFL: COUGARS APPOINT PAUL DIRAGO AS NEW CAPTAIN
AFL GRAND FINAL: WHERE THE STARS STARTED THEIR CAREERS
Galloway is the same height as Gold Coast ruckman Jarrod Witts and just shorter than GWS big man Dawson Simpson (210cm).
The ex-Swan, who hails from Deniliquin, was on Werribee’s VFL list last year and featured in the TAC Cup for Murray Bushrangers.
Sydney recruiting manager Kinnear Beatson said Galloway was “tall, a good size with a great reach and he’s deceptively agile” after he was drafted with pick no.59 in the 2015 rookie draft.
Northcote Park will be hoping he can bring those qualities to Bill Lawry Oval and address a gaping hole on the club’s senior list.
The Cougars’ ruck role has been shared between the likes of Alastair Punshon, Damian Galofaro, Paul Steinicke, Ash Close and Paul Dirago in recent years.
RICKY DYSON TO DEPART BUNDOORA FOR DONS VFL ROLE
GALLERY: OUR BEST SHOTS FROM THE LATEST LOCAL FOOTY FINALS
WILL THIS CLUB JOIN THE NORTHERN FL RANKS IN 2019?
Meanwhile, Matt McLennan has been confirmed for a third season as Northcote Park coach.
The Cougars were second on the Division 1 ladder with a 6-3 record at the midway point of 2018 but went 1-8 in their last nine games to finish eighth.
“After last year’s finish, when we made it to the prelim, this year we were going really well,” general manager Dennis McNiece said.
“Just losing all those players and not having Close and (Jackson) Starcevich, our forward line was pretty decimated in the back half of the year.
“We are still backing (McLennan) in to coach us and think he has done a great job. It was a no-brainer.”
McNiece said 90 per cent of the club’s players had recommitted, headlined by captain Dirago, who was crowned this year’s Division 1 Coaches MVP.
Galloway is expected to be the first of several signings announced in coming weeks and McNiece said the ruckman “is going to be a good player for us.”
MORE LOCAL FOOTY
WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE SAVOURS FLAG SUCCESS
Off-season central: every RDFNL club’s recruits
The new season is just around the corner and Riddell District clubs have been busy bolstering their lists. Check out all the news recruits here.
Recruit tracker: ex-AFL talents join Northern league
OFF-SEASON CENTRAL: It’s a new year and the new local footy season is just around the corner. Check out the latest recruits at every Northern league club here.