Four-time premiership defender Rory Lehmann lands in the SFNL
A Southern league power has made one of the signings of the off-season, locking away a state-league premiership player who has a proven local footy record.
Southern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s one of the signings of the off-season.
Gun defender Rory Lehmann has returned to Melbourne and landed in the Southern league, signing at Port Melbourne Colts.
Lehmann played at Coorong Cats in the River Murray Football League (South Australia) last year but will play in Melbourne in 2025.
He won a flag with the Cats in 2024, which followed a SANFL premiership at Woodville-West Torrens in 2021 and two Eastern league flags at Vermont in ‘18 and ‘19.
The absence of a tall defender allowed for some opposition key forwards to get a hold of the Colts this year.
But the addition of Lehmann will change that, as the defender was a driving force in a Vermont side which averaged less than 52 points per game in a premiership season.
Colts footy operations manager Elton Stevens said Lehmann was “the perfect fit” for the Colts.
“He won a flag last year, two at Vermont, one in the SANFL,” he said.
“JT (coach Justin Taylor) spoke to him about what we’re about, what we did last year, where we’re going and he thought he was the perfect fit for us.
“Players recruit the best players, we’re big on that and since the McCombs have come (Luke and Robbie) they’ve been great.”
The Colts have added another defender and strength and conditioning guru Tyler Bell to their backline stocks next year.
Stevens said the winning record of the Colts’ two latest recruits was vital.
“Success follows some people,” he said.
“To get someone in like Rory who loves winning, it’s good for the culture – he’s the ultimate professional which is what we need.
“JT has been pushing us hard to being more professional so these are the guys we want to get.
“We got Tyler Bell, he’s the strength and conditioning coach at Werribee, they lost the flag last year and won it this year so it’s a fair achievement.
“He comes across to us as a defender as well, so we’ve got two guys who defend first.”
The Colts have also re-signed Melbourne defender Michael Hibberd for 2025.
Start-up club ready to hit the Southern league
There’s a new football club in Melbourne’s outer east. Here’s how it formed, what it’s about and its five-year vision.
Ranked: The ex-AFL players who lit up local footy this year
From the bush to the ‘burbs, former AFL players thrilled local football crowds across all corners of the state this year. We’ve named the best – and ranked the top 15. See who heads the list.