Reigning VAFA champs St Kevin’s sign fresh ex-AFL player Mitch Wallis and brother Josh

Reigning premiers St Kevin’s have pulled off one of the biggest local footy signings of 2023 while another star has committed full time despite receiving several VFL offers.

VAFA reigning premiers St Kevin’s are set for another successful season after signing former AFL player Mitch Wallis and his talented younger brother Josh.

Mitch, 30, will join SKOB after he was delisted from the Western Bulldogs last year where he played 160 games from 2011 to 2022 and was a fan favourite.

His younger brother Josh, a 26-year-old midfielder and VAFA MVP coaches award winner in 2021, will rejoin the club after a season with Noosa Tigers last year.

SKOB coach Anthony Lynch said he was stoked to have Mitch joining his brother Josh at the club.

“It’s a great acquisition,” Lynch said.

“Obviously Mitch is fairly well known to the group because he went through the school with some of the players in our team and he has watched his brother play for the club over the last few years.

“Getting him over the line was great, he will be fantastic for our young group.”

Former Western Bulldog Mitch Wallis has joined St Kevin’s Old Boys. Photo by Michael Klein

Lynch said the recruit of Wallis came about after he sent him a message of support after he was delisted by the Bulldogs.

“It was pretty informal to be honest,” he said.

“I have had a relationship with Mitch for probably a decade really, I was following his AFL career, I’m pretty close with the family so I have always had a relationship.

“When he was delisted by the Bulldogs there was a bit of contact there.

“It was mainly about supporting him out of the AFL and checking in with him and it was only in recent weeks he reached out and said he was keen to play footy at St Kevin’s with his mates and with his brother.

“So it was a pretty easy one to be honest, we’re fortunate there wasn’t too much work involved but we are very happy to have him on board.”

Lynch said the fact that Mitch’s brother Josh was playing for the club made it a big attraction for the former Bulldog to come on board.

“There is not doubt,” he said.

Josh Wallis will rejoin St Kevin’s after having a season with the Noosa Tigers in the QAFL. Picture: Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

“Josh was our best and fairest winner a couple of years ago and then he moved up to Noosa for a year with his partner and they have obviously come back to Melbourne this year so the brothers are very keen to play together.

“It will be pretty special to watch.”

Josh is expected to play in the midfield while Mitch’s role could entail positions outside of the forward line.

St Kevin’s have had 12 players training with VFL clubs over the pre-season with up to seven of them expected to play in the VAFA full time.

Those figures don’t include SKOB youngster Luke Winter who has decided to commit to the VAFA competition this season despite having several VFL offers on the table.

“I spoke to almost every VFL club and Luke was the first player they wanted to know about,” he said.

“My understanding is he had contract offers from most clubs.

Luke Winter has turned down several VFL offers to play for St Kevin’s again this season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“From our point of view it was a matter of trying to help him get to the best club.

“We thought it was only a matter of which club not whether he would go but in the end he decided he just loved his year at St Kevin’s so much.

“He loved the program and loves his mates and he just wants to play at St Kevin’s and continue to try and win premierships.

“Their his words, not mine, but we are obviously thrilled to have him full time.

“He is a special player.”

SKOB had six pre-Christmas sessions with “numbers better than expected” largely stemming from the U19 group.

Lynch was pleased his leaders in the team came back from the Christmas break in good physical conditions which set a great example for the rest of the club.