Northern Football League: Players find new homes across the competition
An “exciting young” country footy talent is set to call the Northern league home in 2023 while a big man is returning to his former club. Here’s the latest.
Northern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Silly season is well and truly underway in the Northern Football Netball League.
Clubs across the competition have started their planning for next season with the arrival of fresh faces.
They’ve recruited from rivals and neighbouring competitions as they look to get a leg up.
Here’s all the latest news from across the competition.
Greensborough boosts its ruck stocks
Greensborough has received a much needed boost to its recruiting stocks with former junior Nathan Howard returning to the club.
The 201cm prospect crosses from Division 1 rivals Bundoora where he has spent the last two seasons.
Howard played every senior game this season before being picked in the Bulls’ reserves grand final side where he won the best on ground medal.
North Heidelberg welcome back former players
Two former players are set to return to North Heidelberg for the 2023 season.
The Dogs have confirmed ruckman Michael Florance and Curtis Brown will again wear club colours.
Florance first played for North Heidelberg back in 2015 and has since played at other clubs in the competition including Diamond Creek and Hurstbridge.
“His experience will be invaluable and (sic) we look forward to a combination of Big Flo and (sic) Majak Daw competing against some of the quality talls currently in Div 1,” the club said.
Meanwhile, Brown returns after a short stint with Whittlesea where his season came to an end in round 2 due to a knee injury.
Brodie White from Craigieburn was the club’s first signing of the off-season.
Fitzroy Stars add real quality
The Fitzroy Stars are desperate to improve in 2023 and their latest recruits show they will certainly have the potential.
The club has confirmed Jai Burns will return after time with Bundoora which included an appearance in this year’s Division 1 grand final.
Meanwhile, Rumbalara’s “exciting young talent” Anthony Walker has been unveiled as the Stars’ latest signing.
It’s expected he’ll play across halfback and through the middle.
The pair will be joined by Allan Norris who won a premiership in the Gippsland region this year.
Corey Wanganeen and Rex Taylor have arrived at the club from Kyabram District league outfit Girgarre.
Wanganeen finished second in the club’s best-and-fairest while being named of the halfback flank in the league’s Team of the Year.
Diamond Creek lands Bundoora premiership player
Division 2 finals contender Diamond Creek looks set to remain around the mark again in 2023.
The Creekers have confirmed the arrival of Bundoora premiership player Brenton Keating for the next two seasons — the club’s first recruit of the off-season.
The defender has played over 200 senior games in the Northern league and was part of the Bulls’ 2017 flag.
He won the reserves premiership this year.
His arrival comes at the perfect time after it was confirmed David Meenen would return to Goulburn Valley league outfit Benalla next season.
Heidelberg West unveils its first recruits
Heidelberg West has been getting busy in the recruiting department.
The Hawks have now unveiled four signings ahead of next season as they look to remain in finals contention.
Midfielder Max Post joins the club from Banyule while Connor Hehir is crossing from Marcellin in the VAFA.
The first player announced was Dylan Scott from Gembrook where he played over 80 senior games and was part of the 2016 premiership side.
“Dylan is the quintessential swingman, capable of playing key position roles while providing rebound from the back half of the ground or swinging forward and hitting the scoreboard,” Heidelberg West said.
Joining him will be Jordan Crowhurst who crosses from Craigieburn.
Country clubs raid the Northern league
Montmorency ruckman Connor Dalgleish is on his way to the Bendigo league after signing with Eaglehawk in the Bendigo league.
Dalgleish departs after more than 80 games.
Meanwhile, Diamond Creek’s David Mennen is set to rejoin Benalla for the 2023 Goulburn Valley League season.
Mennen crossed to the Creekers halfway through the season from Whittlesea.
Bundoora makes moves for redemption
Bundoora looks set to remain in premiership contention with an impressive haul of recruits announced in recent days.
The trio was headlined by the arrival of former Coburg VFL captain Peter McEvoy.
He’s set to be joined by three-time premiership player Joey Palazzolo who is returning to the club while Lachlan East has crossed from rivals Hurstbridge.
East has an impressive Northern League CV which includes being a three-time club best-and-fairest winner, interleague representative and two-time Team of the Year selection.
“Lachlan‘s leadership qualities and his strength of character will compliment our strong culture,” the club said.
Epping secures a major homecoming
After seven years away from the club, Luke Lirosi is returning to Epping.
The Pingers have confirmed the two-time West Preston Lakeside premiership player is set to play a key role on an improved 2022.
The club they expected him to be a “great asset”.
St Mary’s unveil first signing for 2023
St Mary’s has started its pursuit of finals footy early with the signing of Jack Bianchin for the 2023 season.
Bianchin is a former St Mary’s junior who is set to return to the club after a stint with Division 1 outfit Macleod.
“Jack will bring lots of skills to support our younger players, and play a big role in helping them develop,” the club said.
Macleod's quarter of signings among the best
After signing Michael Hurley earlier in the off-season, Macleod has again boosted its playing stocks with three new arrivals.
Darcy Barden, Jack Lipscombe and Zac Hudson have all joined the Division 1 outfit as they look to make inroads on the top five next season.
“We’ve got some very talented young players and we thought we needed some more experienced players around them,” coach Craig Hayes said.
The Kangaroos have also confirmed Billy Barden will be returning to the club to play alongside his brother.
Barden spent last season with Lower Plenty.
Panton Hill gets busy
Division 2 outfit Panton Hill has been one of the busier clubs of the off-season so far with the arrival of several fresh faces.
The club’s latest signing, Riley Livingstone, comes from rivals Fitzroy Stars where he took out the best and fairest last season.
Panton Hill described Livingstone as “one of the premier key forwards” of the competition.
Livingstone will now be a teammate of Greensborough premiership player Josh Callaway who leaves the club after 125 games.
“We're stoked that A Graders like Josh see their footy future at the ’Hill,” the club said.
Joining Livingstone at the club will be his mate Hotak Akram.
Other new faces include Brayden Callaway and Jake Rowe.
Kilmore welcomes two new faces
Division 3 finalist Kilmore is shaping as a stronger team in 2023 after the arrival of two new players.
Ben Schraven is the headline signing after crossing from Wallan in the Riddell District Football League.
Schraven played 17 games for the Magpies this season.
Former Melton player Aaron Speak is the club’s other confirmed signing.
New signings start a busy off-season for Mernda
Mernda’s bid to play finals in 2023 has received a boost with the arrival of six new players in recent weeks.
Among those is the signing of ruckman Billy Morrison who is a former premiership player in the Essendon District League with Jacana and Craigieburn.
Michael Evans is rejoining the club after taking a year off in 2022.
Bailey Dalgleish, Luke Furci, Shannon Bennett and Zac Hill have also been confirmed as signings.
Turtles far from slow in the recruiting stakes
Old Eltham Collegians have announced their first signing for next year with Jackson Freebairn joining the club.
A former Northern Knights representative, Freebairn joins from his junior club Epping where he played eight senior games last season.
He had previously captained Lalor.
The Turtles described Freebairn as a “natural leader and talented midfielder”.
Since Freebairn’s unveiling, they’ve announced a swagger of recruits including Jaedyn Kearney, a former vice-captain at Epping.
Brandon Muse, Cooper Baldac-Lawson, Jake Cullen and Jake Tyson have also been unveiled as new signings.
Lalor unveils a host of signings
After going winless in 2022, Lalor has started add some new pieces to the puzzle.
The club has already signed more than 20 players for next season.
The local footy teams to keep an eye on in 2025
From clubs with massive off-season recruiting drives to those who need to live up to the pressure, these are the local footy teams you need to keep an eye on in 2025.
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.