A SFNL premiership contender has added three superstars for the 2025 season

A mix of experience and emerging talent has landed at a Southern league giant as it bolsters its push towards the 2025 premiership.

It’s some recruiting haul.

Dingley is set to unveil three top-line recruits to super-strengthen its bid for Southern league grand final redemption.

The Dingoes have signed Chris Horton-Milne (Noble Park), Tom McCarthy (Highett/Richmond VFL) and Jacob Duscher (Highett) for 2025.

Horton-Milne returns to the den after a second stint at Noble Park where he won a premiership in 2022.

He played a pivotal role in Dingley’s three consecutive flags between 2015 and 2017.

The star midfielder is one of just four players to have won the Ellis and Meneilly Medals (Division 1 league best and fairest and best-afield in the grand final).

Chris Horton-Milne goals for Dingley. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Tom McCarthy during Richmond pre-season. Picture: Richmond FC.

The Richmond-listed McCarthy joins the Dingoes after a terrific debut VFL season.

VFL will remain McCarthy’s priority after he played 15 games in the yellow and black this year.

He joins Kai Stretton, Caleb Lewis, Michael Lewis and Lochie Benton as VFL-listed Dingoes.

McCarthy played six matches for Highett this year after featuring in the Division 2 team of the year in 2023.

Duscher also crosses from Highett after an individually decorated season.

He ran second in the league medal by a vote, was named in a second successive team of the year and took out the Bulldogs’ best and fairest.

Dingley coach Zach Horsley said the club’s recruiting strategy was to add range to its star-studded midfield.

“It was about expanding the look of our midfield group to have some variety in there,” he said.

“It allows us to have flexibility around who can play multiple positions and we’ll look to use them in a way where they can impact the game more.

“Instead of getting 30, 35 touches, they can go and impact the scoreboard or give us some relief in the backline.

“We’ve aimed for a better balance across the ground to open up new avenues.”

Jacob Duscher. Picture: Highett FC

Dingley’s signing spree follows its heartbreaking two-point loss to Cheltenham in this year’s decider.

Horsley said the additions were based more around long-term need than immediate success.

“We want to be at the pointy end of the year, there’s no doubt about that, but we just identified some holes in our list around an age bracket,” he said.

“Our midfield has a lot of older guys, 30 plus, who are still genuine stars of the competition but you need to have a plan in place to eventually replace them.

“At the end of the day when you’re so close to winning a grand final, you make sure you tick the boxes to be there the following year.”