Country footy ruckman Andrew Smith joins the Southern league
A star country footy ruckman with a deep trick bag was one of many 11th hour clearances into the Southern league. See the latest moves.
Southern
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Chelsea Heights is putting “footsteps towards next year” with its latest signing.
The Demons have added Euroa big man Andrew Smith ahead of the clearance deadline.
It comes in a bitter-sweet week for Chelsea Heights, which expects to lose star Luke Tapscott for the year through an ankle injury.
Smith joins the injury-ravaged Demons with a niggle of his own but footy operations manager Lee Thwaites said he should play as early as this week.
“He didn’t play on the weekend but he’s a good chance to play this week,” he said.
“He understands where we’re at, we’re trying to get him in, get some games in and sort of reboot.
“We’ve had a chat with most of the guys already and all of the recruits are going to go around again.
“They’re keen to hit the ground running.”
Smith, a dominant ruckman, joins Angus McPherson in the Demons’ tall stocks.
Thwaites hoped Smith would have an impact forward during the back end of the year.
“Due to not having Jess Murphy for the next few weeks due to his groin injury, we’re hoping he can give us something down forward,” he said.
“Big McPherson has been going OK in the ruck so hopefully Smith can help Gus and teach (him) a trick or two.”
Dingley, meanwhile, boosted its hopes for a tilt at the premiership by signing livewire Michael Barnes.
Barnes, like Smith, crossed from Euroa ahead of the deadline.
Prior to Euroa, Barnes was the captain and a champion player at St Bede’s Mentone.
Barnes collected 20 disposals on debut for the Dingoes at the weekend.
East Brighton welcomed back a pair of premiership players.
Jack Rennex and Ryan Semmel have both made it back to Hurlingham Park before the clearance closure.
Rennex kicked 21 goals across the Vampires’ 2023 premiership season and Ryan Semmel played a crucial role up forward on grand final day.
In addition to Dane Swan, Port Melbourne Colts regained Darrean Wyatt.
Wyatt, who is precisely the type of player the Colts missed in the first half of the year, played on the weekend.
Recently re-signed Mordialloc coach Josh Jewell has welcomed Luke Ellis (Parkdale Vultures) and Jordan Duignan (Skye).
In Division 2, Murrumbeena has snared Ben Humphrey from Foster and Travis Odgen from Warragul Industrials.
Odgen made the West Gippsland Team of the Year last season.
Humphrey played in the Southern league interleague side and took out Mordialloc’s best and fairest in 2019.
In Division 3, South Mornington added five recruits before Sunday’s deadline and one starred on debut.
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