Levi Greenwood discusses his move to Reservoir, along with several big names

Levi Greenwood was welcomed to the Northern league with a tag in his Reservoir debut but the ex-AFL star hopes he, and several big-name recruits, can help turn the club’s fortunes around.

Reservoir recruits Ricky Dyson, Levi Greenwood and Aaron Edwards.

Playing Division 3 footy, Levi Greenwood didn’t expect to cop a tag in his Reservoir debut.

The former North Melbourne and Collingwood star was kept quiet by Ivanhoe’s Jamie Lay in the Northern league Round 1 clash at Crispe Park on Saturday.

He could see the lighter side of it after the game though.

“I didn’t expect to have a guy hanging off me,” Greenwood said.

“He was really good though … I don’t know that he learnt much from me, but well done to him.”

Levi Greenwood in action for Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

Greenwood is one of Reservoir’s big off-season recruits.

He’s one of three ex-AFL talents that took the field in the season-opener, along with great mate Aaron Edwards and Ricky Dyson.

It’s part of a huge push from the Mustangs to become competitive again after a one-win wooden spoon season last year.

The likes of Paul Scanlon, Billy Barden, Tyle Williams, Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith, Jack Sandric, Joseph Palazzolo and Josh Grabowski have also come on board.

Greenwood and Edwards arrive after winning an Outer East Division 1 premiership with Healesville last season.

The opportunity to play with mates and help a battling club was a motivating factor for the pair to come down.

“I just wanted to play with mates. Ever since I finished playing AFL I wanted to play with friends,” Greenwood said after Saturday’s match.

“Last year we went out to Healesville, went with Aaron and Luke Potts and a couple of other guys, but it was just too far – travel was 90 minutes for training.

“The club was elite, really good, I don’t have anything to say about Healesville and we won the flag there.

“Then I wasn’t sure what I was going to do this year.

“We thought if there’s a team that can fit us all in and Paul Scanlon is close with the coach here and is assistant coach, he helped get myself, Aaron, Tyle and Billy Barden across.

“Hopefully we can move the needle a little bit because they’ve been down the bottom of the ladder the last few years.”

Since leaving the AFL, Greenwood has had a track record of success in local footy.

In his two seasons at Deer Park, the Lions made a semi-final in the Western league before transferring to the Essendon District in 2023 and winning the Division 1 premiership in its debut season.

He then moved to Healeville last year, where he won an Outer East Division 1 flag and was awarded the grand final medal as best-on-ground.

The 160-AFL-game midfielder conceded the Mustangs weren’t at their best against Ivanhoe but would be better for the run.

He was confident the club could quickly turn it around given the players’ experience.

“Today wasn’t a good start, I think it’s just about gelling,” he said.

“We haven’t been able to train together much and I think we had 14 or 15 new blokes come in from last year.

Reservoir coach Rohan Davies. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“Hopefully after a few weeks we’ll gel, everyone will figure out how we all play, get a bit of continuity and get off the bottom of the ladder.

“There’s some good signs, we’ve got a strong core senior group.

“When you bring in a lot of new recruits there’s expectation as well.

“We all have a lot of pride in the way we play, I don’t like having stinkers.”

Reservoir will look to bounce back when it travels to Old Ivanhoe Collegians on Saturday, followed by fellow strugglers Lalor and Heidelberg West.

Greenwood has been particularly enjoying playing under coach Rohan Davies.

He said the coach’s approach had been refreshing.

“Rohan is probably the most relaxed coach I’ve had, which is good,” Greenwood said.

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“He understands this isn’t everyone’s priority, people have work and family commitments and it isn’t always easy to get to every session.

“I haven’t been able to get to many sessions and I need to on the back of today.

“It’s refreshing and hopefully we can come through for him in the next few weeks.

“We had a couple of injuries in practice matches, so hopefully we get them back in the next few weeks, but when you bring in so many new guys you’d like to think we’ll pick up a little bit.”