Mernda coach Rob Fletcher discusses the club’s Demons recruits, expectations

A fully fit Billy Morrison and Brent Marshall put Mernda in premiership contention, securing two gun recruits on the eve of the season could take the Demons all the way.

Mernda recruits Lachie Evans and Nick Gregson with coach Rob Fletcher.

A massive double recruiting coup on the eve of the season will rocket Mernda right back into NFNL Division 3 premiership contention.

Not that the Demons weren’t among the top teams in the competition to begin with.

However, the addition of 2023 Division 3 league best-and-fairest winner Lachie Evans and gun big man Nick Gregson is a significant boost just 22 days from Round 1.

The pair come across from troubled Essendon District Division 2 club Burnside Heights, which fell foul of AFL Victoria salary cap rules earlier this month.

Having won his league medal playing with Heidelberg West, Evans returns to the Northern league after one season away after claiming Burnside’s club best-and-fairest, finishing third in the league count and claiming Team of the Year honours last year with the Bears.

Gregson, who was also named in the Division 2 Team of the Year, played one season in the Northern league at Reservoir, also earning Team of the Year selection, while he won a Western league premiership at Braybrook in 2022.

Mernda coach Rob Fletcher said the pair would bolster an already strong list.

“Billy, Lachie’s his brother gave me a call and said he wanted to play, they lost their dad last year and it was something they wanted to do,” Fletcher said.

“Lucky for us we could make that happen and Nick works for Lachie, so they’ve come together.

“Even before we picked the boys up I thought we looked alright.

“I think people forget that Billy Morrison and Nipper Marshall hardly played last year, they had no pre-season and it looked like they might not play at all.

“To get them fully fit, Billy has lost 30 kilos – you won’t recognise him – and is flying and Nipper is looking as good as I’ve seen him and had a huge game (in Saturday’s practice match).

“Picking up a bloke like Hammer, Matty Campbell, as well – he’s played VFL footy – and Brayden Plant we thought we were in really good shape.”

Evans has made a name for himself as a mobile ruckman but is expected to play second fiddle to Billy Morrison at Mernda.

The pair finished first and second in the league medal in 2023.

Meanwhile, Gregson kicked 48 goals in 18 matches last season and will form an equally formidable partnership with key forward Bryce Kimulaitis.

“At the end of the day, Billy Morrison is the best ruckman in the comp,” Fletcher said.

“But he and Lachie will be a great combination, the last time they played in Div 3 they went one-two in the league best-and-fairest.

“Nick kicked almost 50 goals so he’ll be a great addition next to Bryce and we’ve picked up Planty as well, who’s played Div 1 for Macleod and at Thomastown.”

Mernda has lost two of its best players from last season, gun defender Kai Turner moving up to Division 1 club Eltham, while midfielder Joel Harris will test himself at top-flight Bundoora.

Fletcher believes Campbell can be a straight replacement for Turner in the Demons’ miserly backline.

Dayne Kellett has been promoted to co-captain this season, alongside Matthew Golledge.

Fletcher is confident the defence will continue to be the backbone of the club’s finals hopes.

“Kai was enormous for our footy club but we wished him luck,” he said.

“A bloke like Hammer, he can slot in pretty well, and we’ll still look pretty good.

“With Dayne Kellett, Jesse Guelfo, Riley Vincent and Kyle Yankos, the back six is looking very strong.

“Dayne has come through all our juniors and his dad is a legend of the footy club and for his son now to be captain is a great thing.”

On the back of a grand final in 2023, Mernda reached the preliminary final last year, falling to eventual premier Old Paradians.

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The Demons expect to be around the mark again in 2025.

“At the end of the day, it’s just about enjoying our footy,” Fletcher said.

“We obviously want to play finals and we’ll go from there.”

Mernda kicks off it’s campaign at home against big off-season mover Epping on April 5.