Outer East league: VFL players, B&F winners among Pakenham recruits
New Pakenham coach Justin Stanton has made a rousing start to his tenure, securing five recruits as the Lions’ rebuild takes shape.
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Justin Stanton promised an aggressive approach to recruiting when he was appointed Pakenham’s new coach last month.
His words have been vindicated, with the Lions announcing five signings, including Hampton Park’s reigning dual best and fairest winner Tanner Stanton, who has joined as a playing assistant coach.
South Belgrave trio Jake Kidd, Nash Butler and Finn Nicholas have also signed, while James Ahern has returned after a stint in the Gippsland league.
Kidd, a former Box Hill Hawks VFL player, will also be a playing assistant coach.
Stanton took the Pakenham job fresh from coaching Nar Nar Goon to the West Gippsland league premiership. He still had the smell of success in his nostrils — and he knew Pakenham needed a boost.
“We’ll be aggressive in our means to improve the list so we can have an impact next year,” Stanton said.
Stanton takes charge of Pakenham at a critical stage in its history.
The Lions were relegated from Premier Division of the Outer East league last season and face the prospect of competing against far-away clubs such as Yarra Glen, Yea and Warburton Millgrove in Division 1 next season.
Stanton said he starts his Pakenham tenure full of optimism and ambition.
“In my experiences as a coach I’ve been able to build a list that played finals consistently,” he said.
“It’s going to take a bit of time but if we get the pieces that we can control right it’s a really exciting challenge.”
Pakenham has also re-signed a stackof players, including Bailey Stiles, Rhys Clacy, Josh Trembath and D’Angelo Taito.
Pakenham’s signings:
James Ahern: Returns to Pakenham after playing some senior footy at Drouin in the Gippsland league last season. Classy left footer.
Nash Butler: The 23-year-old inside midfielder who joins the Lions from South Belgrave in Division 1 EFNL. He made his senior debut in 2019, the same year he won the Under 19’s league best and fairest and Under 19’s premiership. After an injury interrupted couple of seasons, he played in a reserves premiership at South Belgrave.
Finn Nicholas: The talented mid/forward made his senior debut for South Belgrave at just 17 in 2022, and arrives at Pakenham with tremendous upside.
Jake Kidd: Joins Pakenham as a playing assistant coach. Boasts a decorated playing and coaching career with over 200 senior games at South Belgrave, Knox and Rowville, as well as 50 VFL and development games with Box Hill Hawks. More recently Jake’s football journey has seen him scratch the coaching itch, with three seasons as a senior assistant coach and two seasons as head coach of the development squad at South Belgrave in Div 1 EFNL, culminating in a development squad premiership in 2024.
Tanner Stanton: A nephew of senior coach Justin, Tanner comes to Pakenham as a playing assistant coach. Has won the past two best and fairests at Hampton Park in SFNL, adding to his decorated career which includes stints at Garfield, Beaconsfield and Hampton Park. He
also played a couple of games of VFL for North Melbourne in 2019.
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