Check out all the Riddell District off-season recruits here
RECRUIT TRACKER: League best-and-fairest winners, VFL talents and exciting young guns, Riddell District clubs have made some strong recruiting gains for 2025.
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The local footy silly season is in full swing and Riddell District clubs have been busy welcoming new talent.
From league best-and-fairest winners and VFL talents to premiership heroes and exciting young guns, the competition will only be stronger in 2025.
With two new clubs – Gisborne Giants and Melton South – joining the fray next season, there’s plenty of fresh faces.
Check out all the confirmed arrivals here.
VICTOR MICALLEF (Wallan)
One of the biggest names in the Essendon District for the past decade. Micallef has a distinguished resume that includes a EDFL Division 1 league best-and-fairest in 2017 and runner-up in 2021, club best-and-fairests at Hillside (twice), East Keilor and St Albans and seven Team of the Year guernseys. Brings class, experience and leadership to a Magpies team looking to go one better in 2025.
TIM WALSH (Macedon)
No stranger to the Riddell District, Walsh burst onto the scene with Riddell – winning the 2016 Rising Gun – but, after having a year out of the game, returns to the field with the Cats. Was a part of Riddell’s 2022 premiership, kicking two goals and was a star at Gisborne in the Bendigo league. A big acquisition for the Cats to take some pressure off skipper Jason Cooke.
BLAKE WATSON (Macedon)
Having come through the ranks at Ballarat league club, Sunbury, Watson will be looking to establish himself as a senior player with the Cats. Played three senior games for the Lions this season, including the elimination final, and 10 matches at reserves level. The club is looking for him to add “speed and agility together with great skills”.
FABIAN BRANCATISANO (Melton Centrals)
A huge get for the Blues. The experienced midfielder played VFL at Coburg, Port Melbourne, Werribee and Essendon. Most recently, he’s played the last two seasons at Western Division 2 club Sunshine, helping the club to a drought-breaking premiership this season. A Western and Loddon Valley representative.
HISHAM KERBATIEH (Melton Centrals)
Brings an impressive resume to Arnolds Creek Reserve. The star forward played VFL for Carlton, Williamstown and Coburg and arrives from Western Division 2 club Sunshine. Booted 41 goals in 11 matches this season to help the club win a drought-breaking premiership. A long-time Essendon District representative too.
ANTHONY PIVA (Melton Centrals)
Represented Vic Metro at under-16s level back in 2010 and is a Western Jets graduate. Last played in 2023 with St Albans.
AJDIN ELKASOVIC (Melton Centrals)
Took a season off after playing for St Albans in 2023, making eight senior appearances and kicking 10 goals. A former Western Jets graduate.
HAYDN SMITH (Kyneton)
The Kyneton junior made his senior debut for the Tigers way back in 2010, while also representing the Bendigo Pioneers. He’s since spent the past 14 years in Tasmania, racking up 250 matches for Tasmania State League club Lauderdale, multiple Team of the Year appearances, a reserves league best-and-fairest and a couple of club reserves best-and-fairests.
LOUIS THOMPSON (Kyneton)
The son of a gun is another Tigers junior and Bendigo Pioneers representative. Thompson played seven Coates League matches in 2021 and made his senior debut for Kyneton. Returns to the club after spending 2023 with Eastern power Doncaster, where he played 15 senior matches, before missing the 2024 campaign. The son of Kyneton great and North Melbourne and Hawthorn forward Nathan.
NOAH SMALLACOMBE (Lancefield)
An Essendon District league best-and-fairest at under-19s and reserve grade level with Strathmore. Has since spent the past three years at Essendon Doutta Stars, playing 40 matches. Smallacombe made 10 senior appearances in EDFL Premier Division 1 this season. Brings significant experience and class to the Tigers, who hope he is “a silky left-footer with amazing skills that has the ability to be a top shelf player in an increasingly hot RDFNL”.
TOM JACKSON (Lancefield)
Came through the ranks at Aberfeldie but made his senior debut at Essendon District Premier Division rival Essendon Douttas Stars in 2021. Has spent the past two years at Division 1 club Tullamarine, playing 16 matches and kicking 23 goals this season, earning a mention in the best seven times. Brings significant experience and class to the Tigers’ line-up.
HAMISH THOMAS (Lancefield)
An under-18s Bendigo league premiership player at Gisborne before stepping away from the game. Now looking to make his mark in senior footy at his hometown club.
ASHLEY-JAMES GRAHAM (Lancefield)
The Geelong native moved north as a teenager to play for NEAFL club Tuggernong. After time out of the game, he returned to the field with Ballarat league club Bacchus Marsh in 2023, playing two senior games and 14 more at reserve grade level, earning a mention in the best 11 times. Now looking to bring his experience to the Tigers’ line-up.
WILL O’CONNELL (Lancefield)
The 20-year-old joins his brother Ned in black and yellow. Played all 21 games for St Bernard’s VAFA Division 1 under-19s team this season, helping the club reach the grand final. Has also played EDFL under-18s at Essendon Doutta Stars and Strathmore. The Tigers hope he can be “a crafty left-footer who loves his time and space on the wing and can also do some damage in the forward line”.
BRAD MANGAN (Gisborne Giants)
A rock the Giants hope to build their foundations on. The former North Melbourne draftee and 2015 Williamstown VFL premiership player has been one of country footy’s best for near a decade. After his time at the Kangaroos he went on to play state league footy at West Adelaide and Williamstown before returning to his junior club, Goulburn Valley power Kyabram. He’s won two flags with the Bombers and represented the GVFL. The Gisborne local will now take on the challenge of captaining the fledgling Giants into their debut senior season.
JOSH LEE (Gisborne Giants)
Fresh out of under-19s, started the 2024 season in the reserves at Sunbury but broke into the senior team late in the year. Played a part in the Lions’ run to Ballarat league finals and its elimination final loss before stepping back to reserves and was one of the team’s best in its grand final defeat. Now looking to bring his experience and class to the Giants.
SAM VAN TAARLING (Gisborne Giants)
Played junior footy at East Sunbury and Sunbury before stepping into senior football with Sunbury Kangaroos. The key position tall made 29 senior appearances for the Kangaroos, having a breakout campaign this season with 15 appearances in EDFL Division 2. Brings much-needed height and endurance to the Giants’ maiden team.
WILLIAM GRAY (Gisborne Giants)
A Macedon junior, who made his senior debut in 2019 and played eight matches in 2023. However, the defender was limited to just five reserve grade appearances this season. Will look to establish himself as a senior player at the Giants and bring his experience from the impressive Macedon development system.
COOPER MOORE (Gisborne Giants)
Returned to footy after a couple of seasons away in 2024, playing seven games in the reserves for Ballarat league club Sunbury. Joins the fledgling Giants looking to make his mark at senior level, bringing pace and forward craft.
SPENCER JONES (Gisborne Giants)
Came through the ranks at neighbouring Gisborne Rookies and Gisborne before testing himself in the Essendon District with Premier Division heavyweight Aberfeldie. Made his senior debut for Abers in 2023 but was limited to just eight reserve grade appearances this season. Nevertheless, the forward brings top-level experience to the club’s senior debut.
MATTHEW WALLACE (Gisborne Giants)
The key defender returns to the Riddell District league having last played in the competition with Sunbury Kangaroos in 2018. Spent the 2024 season with VAFA Division 3 outfit North Brunswick, playing 10 senior matches and being named in the best in seven of them. Will bring much-needed experience and composure to a backline that could see a bit of work in 2025.
BLAKE TIRCHETT (Gisborne Giants)
The Sunbury Kangaroos product represented the Riddell District at under-15 and under-17 level before the club left to join the Essendon District league. Made his senior debut in 2021 and has only missed a handful of games since. The key position player looms as an important addition with his ability to play either end of the ground.
DYLAN CUNNINGHAM (Gisborne Giants)
Has been playing senior football at Sunbury Kangaroos since 2021, making 16 appearances in EDFL Division 2 this season. Was in the best nine times in 25 games the past two years. The Giants are looking for him to bring that experience to the club’s debut season.
JIAYA MITCHELL (Gisborne Giants)
A Riddell District league best-and-fairest winner and premiership player at under-18 level at Rupertswood and won a Ballarat league reserve grade flag with Sunbury Lions. Made his senior debut for the Lions in 2022 but has mainly played reserves. Made just one appearance for Sunbury this season but will look to become a regular senior player for the Giants.
ZAC PLOOG (Gisborne Giants)
Arrives from Sunbury Kangaroos, where he played 10 senior EDFL Division 2 games in 2023 and four more in 2024. Played 13 matches and kicked 25 goals and was named in the Kangaroos’ best in their reserve grade grand final loss this season. The forward brings much-needed senior experience to a club looking to make the step up to senior football for the first time.
BLAKE LAWSON (Gisborne Giants)
Finally cemented himself as a senior player at Sunbury Kangaroos this season, playing 13 EDFL Division 2 matches. The defender is now looking to become a key part of the Giants in their debut season.
JAMES O’CONNOR (Gisborne Giants)
A Riddell District representative at under-18 level when Sunbury Kangaroos were still a part of the league. Returns with the Giants, looking to help the club make a strong transition to senior football. After nine and six senior games in 2022-23, O’Connor established himself in 2024, playing all 16 matches.
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