NFL 2019: Former Essendon VFL midfielder Matt Dornauf among the signings at Macleod
Macleod has continued its recruiting spree, adding another five quality signings to its list for the 2019 Northern Football League Division 1 season.
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Macleod has continued its recruiting spree, adding another five quality signings to its list for the 2019 Northern Football League Division 1 season.
Whittlesea and Epping premiership player Matt Dornauf and star Canberra key defender Jack Baker are among the additions at De Winton Park.
Macleod coach Christian Stagliano said the Roos signed the pair through connections at the club.
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Macleod announced earlier this month it had signed former Gold Coast academy members Harry Simington and Brodie Foster and Calder Cannons product Muhammad Saad.
Dornauf, who played four games with Essendon’s VFL side in 2016, is good mates with star midfielder Lucas Hobbs and Baker is the cousin of fellow recruit Mark Baker.
“We were alerted to them being possibilities and obviously both have really good backgrounds and are good people, more importantly,” Stagliano said.
“Once that happened, we were more than happy to meet with them and got it done.
“Not that we went out looking for them or hunting, we were pretty fortunate through our networks that they came to us.”
Dornauf is a name that would be familiar to NFL followers, playing in Whittlesea’s 2010 and 2015 premierships and Epping’s 2012 grand final triumph.
The goalkicking midfielder kicked 120 goals in 90 matches for Whittlesea and won the club’s 2015 best and fairest, also featuring in 32 games for Epping in 2012 and 2013.
Dornauf spent 2018 with Echuca in the Goulburn Valley competition, kicking 15 goals in 21 matches and was part of the Bombers’ finals campaign.
“He was happy to come down and we were certainly happy to have him,” Stagliano said.
“He’s been a really good fit, he knew a lot of the boys, which is handy.
Baker has relocated to Melbourne from Canberra and will join cousin Mark at Macleod in 2019.
Jack has played with Canberra Demons in the NEAFL and has previously spent time at Belconnen, while Mark has been with TAC Cup club Northern Knights the past two seasons and attended the 2017 state combine.
Mark, a developing key-position prospect, has also been signed by Coburg for this season.
Adrian Totino has also lodged a clearance to join Macleod from Epping, and Keilor’s Thomas Scott has impressed in pre-season training.
Scott played in the TAC Cup with Greater Western Victoria and played under-19s with Essendon District league club Keilor last season.
“He moved to Melbourne last year but he only played the second half of the year and went really well I believe in Keilor’s under-19s,” Stagliano said.
“He moved into the area and another one that we just sort of stumbled across. He has looked really good at training as well but he is a younger guy. I think he is going to have plenty offer going forward.”
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