Epping caps strong off-season with addition of AFL Sydney club captain

Epping’s quest to jump up the NFNL Division 2 ladder received a boost with an AFL Sydney club captain. Get a wrap of the Pingers’ off-season moves here.

Andrew Denoon has signed for Epping.

Epping’s hopes of jumping up the NFNL Division 2 ladder have been boosted by two key recruits.

Firstly, the return of 2012 premiership player Luke Lirosi from West Preston-Lakeside and the arrival of AFL Sydney gun Andrew Denoon.

Lirosi is a two-time Division 1 premiership player with the Roosters, claiming the best-on-ground medal in 2019, and a major boost to the club’s on and off-field leadership.

However, it is the unexpected recruitment of Denoon that has the Pingers excited.

The experienced defender was captain of Southern Power in the AFL Sydney second tier Platinum Division, won the league best-and-fairest in 2018, winning a premiership in 2019 and finishing third in the league medal last season.

Epping co-coach Glen Lehner said, fortuitously for the club, a friendship has secured Denoon’s services.

“He’s good mates with one of our other recruits, Jackson Bailey, and Andrew’s partner has moved down to have a crack with St Kilda VFL Women’s team,” Lehner said.

“Jackson played up there with him and so that was it.

“The training sessions he’s done so far, he’s done some work with the backs, moves well and has good voice and direction.

“He’s a good size and will slot into our back half nicely.”

Jackson Bailey, and his brother Ryan, will strengthen Epping at both ends of the field.

Jackson returns to Melbourne from Sydney and has previous experience at Heathcote and looms as a focal point in the Pingers attack this season, helping fill the void left by Damon Marcon’s departure.

Ryan is expected to slot in alongside Denoon in defence, while Heathcote teammate Matt Mikic will also pull on the navy blue.

Luke Lirosi in action for West Preston-Lakeside. Picture: Hamish Blair

Division 3 Team of the Year winger Ethan Gorski arrives from a stint at Panton Hill, Clayton Campbell and Harley Gleeson (Westmeadows), Tom and James Stockwell and Jack Powell are among the other new faces.

“Ryan (Bailey) is a good mover, a big backman, good set of hands and he’ll work through the back half and maybe up on the wing,” Lehner said.

“Max comes with the Bailey brothers, he played with them at Heathcote last year, he’s a solid midfield, half-back type, has a strong mark on him.

“Clay is a hard-running midfielder from Westmeadows and Harley is another who’s come over and he can swing both ends and will be very handy for us.

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“We’ve been busy and the recruiting team have been working hard to get some quality players in that we think will improve our list.”

Lehner also praised the work of new assistant coach Anthony Stockwell and reserves coach Matthew Patti.

Epping kicked off it’s preparations for Round 1 with an opening practice match against Outer East club Yarra Glen before hit outs against VAFA outfit North Brunswick and the traditional clash against Mernda in the Patrick Chow Cup on March 31.

The Pingers’ season begins against Thomastown on Good Friday.