Outer East league: Officer signs Jake Gains, Brenton Hillard, Jeremy Monckton and others

EFL stars, premiership players and ex-VFL men are among a raft of Officer signings ahead of its return to the Outer East league’s top flight.

Jake Gains takes a kick during the EFL Premier Division grand final in 2022. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We’ve got a bit happening at the moment. Yeah, it’s exciting,” Officer coach Daniel Charles says ahead of his club’s pre-season training kick-off on November 15.

Officer will step up to Premier division of Outer East league in 2024 and has been working hard to bolster its list.

The work has paid off, the Kangaroos announcing five recruits already (with more to come), headlined by former Noble Park players Jake Gains and Brenton Hillard.

Former Rowville midfielder Ben Kernick, Beaconsfield small forward Jeremy Valentine and two-time Cora Lynn premiership player Jeremy Monckton have also signed.

It’s a return home of sorts for Hillard and Monckton, who are former Officer juniors.

Gains was a Berwick premiership ruckman at 17 and also played in Noble Park’s 2022 flag.

Brenton Hillard (back) playing for Frankston in the VFL. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hillard, a strong bodied midfielder, is “a very talented footballer’’, according to Charles.

Both Gains and Hillard have VFL experience; Gains with Casey Demons and Hillard with both Casey and Frankston.

“They are two high quality recruits for us so that’s a step in the right direction,” Charles said.

“They’re both in their late 20s so perfect age for what we’ve got.

“We’ve got a young list. They’re pretty much just getting into their prime.”

Charles said the athletic Gains would be utilised in the ruck and at centre half back.

“He played them both really well at Noble Park,’’ he said.

“He was a premiership ruckman at Berwick as a 17-year-old. He can play basically anywhere we need him but I think his best positions are centre half back and ruck.’’

On Hillard, Charles said: “He is a big bodied midfielder with a cannon for a leg. Great ball user, strong over the ball, very talented footballer.’’

Officer coach Daniel Charles addresses his players last season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Officer finished fifth, with a 7-8 record, in Division 1 last season.

“This year it was all about seeing what we had at the club, introducing a game plan, a game style and a structure to the team and then figuring out what we needed to go forward,’’ Charles said.

“We identified that so we’ve gone out and the club’s been really positive in getting the right people to the club, knowing we’ve got the depth and the youth coming through to help build for the future.’’

Officer has lost midfielder Anthony Bernardo to Seville and also ruckman Kaleb Brice to Pakenham.

Charles said more recruits would be unveiled in early November.