Outer East league: Powelltown adds champion goalkicker

The flag-winning Towners will have even more firepower after securing four quality recruits, including a goalkicking great.

Justin Van Unen takes a kick for Wandin. Picture: James Ross

After ending a 33-year premiership drought last season, Powelltown has set its focus on back-to-back flags in Outer East Division 2.

The Towners have retained the majority of their list and added some serious talent.

Most notably, local football goalkicking great Justin Van Unen will pull on the Powelltown jumper this season.

The mercurial spearhead has kicked goals wherever he’s played and on the small grounds in Outer East he is sure to fire off some big numbers.

A century of goals is well within his compass.

Van Unen played with Southern league Division 1 side Dingley last season but linked with Powelltown through a friendship with Towners Michael Fowkes and Jarrod Bayliss.

They played together at Wandin in 2018 and ‘19.

Justin Van Unen playing for Dingley last season.

Van Unen snaps a goal for Wandin.

Van Unen spent 2018 and ’19 with Wandin, booting 96 goals from 20 games and then 62 from 15.

Prolific goalkicking and crowd pleasing have been his go since he came out of the Oakleigh Chargers (and was touted as a draft prospect) in 2009.

He slotted 80 goals for Doncaster East in 2011, a ton for Rye in 2012, 86 for Vermont in 2013 and 77 for Vermont in 2014.

In 2015 he joined Mt Eliza and nailed a second century.

Van Unen also featured on the reality TV program The Recruit.

Powelltown has also recruited Gary Conyers from North Ringwood, Dylan Sverns (Heathmont) and Tim Ekers (Yarra Glen).

Powelltown president Geoff Mooney said the Towners were looking strong.

“The list hasn’t changed much, we’ve added a few inclusions,” he said.

“A few said they were going to retire but they didn’t feel too bad after 2022 and thought they’ve got one more year in them.”

Powelltown player coach Jarrod Bayliss, centre, peps up his troops at training ahead of last season’s grand final. Picture: Kiel Egging.

Mooney said a new pavilion was under construction at the club and Powelltown would play its home games this year at Eastern Ranges’ ground in Kilsyth.

He said the players were fitter than this time last year.

“They’ve come back hungry and excited about trying to go for it again,” Mooney said.

“They’ve got a fair bit of motivation. Why can’t we do it again?”

Bayliss is playing-coach again, with former Richmond player Kelvin Moore senior assistant coach.