Outer East league: Woori Yallock’s key recruit set to unlock possibilities in 2025

Woori Yallock coach Brendan Donovan looks at the Tigers’ list changes, the impact a key recruit will make and the club’s emergence of youth.

Taylor Gibson celebrates a goal against Narre Warren last season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Woori Yallock has been a bit thin on recruits this off-season but the one signing it’s landed is vital, according to coach Brendan Donovan.

Ruckman Ryley Monkhorst returns from Mooroolbark and will make the Tigers stronger in a range of areas.

“It frees up Zach (Monkhorst),’’ Donovan said.

“I mean, I could play Zach in the midfield. I could play him at centre half-back, full-forward or centre half-forward, it just gives us so much more flexibility and Ryley is such a tough bugger that he can play fit, he can play injured and you just know you’re going to get first use in the ruck.

“I’m really looking forward to Ryley coming back and playing good footy.”

Ryley’s return reunites the three Monkhorst brothers, with Ben also at Woori.

Woori Yallock finished second on the ladder last season but lost both of its finals in a disappointing finish in Premier Division.

Zach Monkhorst will be freed up to play in more positions. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Ahead of the 2025 season, the Tigers look like having a mix of experience and youth.

They’ll be a contender yet again.

“I think we’re going to be entirely one point this year,” Donovan said, eluding to the club’s plethora of homegrown players.

“We’ve got nine kids coming out of the under 18s, I think five will push straight away for the seniors.

“We didn’t really feel like we needed to recruit a lot because if we don’t play these kids they’re going to go somewhere else next year.

“We still feel like we’ve got a really strong 30. Go back 10 years and Woori used to win flags with a strong 22.”

Woori Yallock, though, has lost key players since last season.

“We’ve had a bit of turnover,’’ Donovan said.

Star midfielder Liam Odea is travelling up north and will play at Centrals Trinity Beach in the AFL Cairns league.

Bailey Syswerda has crossed to The Basin and will be hard to replace.

Jak Ryan (Mooroolbark), Kynan French (Lilydale) and Baylin Spencer (South Croydon) have moved on, and Woori Yallock will miss their leg speed.

“We’ve just lost a bit of speed around the edges,’’ Donovan said.

“And we’ve had to adjust a few things.”

Brendan Donovan coaching Woori Yallock last season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

In 2025, Woori Yallock’s scoring will again go through Taylor Gibson, who kicked 65 goals in 19 games last season.

The big focal point fired off bags of nine, eight and six last season.

Woori Yallock has been training at Mt Lilydale and Donovan said his players are fit and hungry.

He said several youngsters were burning up the training track, including teenager Roy Ray.

“He has had a really good pre season and I think he’ll start in the ones,’’ he said.

“I’m happy to play kids, we’ve got a really good, strong older group of senior players. It will be a bit of a blend of old and young and it should put us in pretty good stead.’’

Kody Busoli will again captain Woori Yallock.

The Tigers host Emerald in the season opener on April 5.

WOORI YALLOCK

IN: Ryley Monkhorst (Mooroolbark)

OUT: Bailey Syswerda (The Basin), Kynan French (Lilydale), Joshua Neal (Mooroolbark), Baylin Spencer (South Croydon), Jak Ryan (Mooroolbark), Mason O’Neill (Seville), Liam Odea (Centrals Trinity Beach)