SFNL: East Brighton has added to its already star-laden midfield with another big-game player

A strong Southern league side has already strengthened its premiership credentials for 2025 with the addition of a star midfielder. We dive into the move and analyse what impact he will have.

Ben Dessent. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Another top-liner is East Brighton bound.

The Vampires have wasted no time in bolstering their stocks for 2025 with the signing of former Montrose midfielder Ben Dessent.

Dessent, a star inside midfielder, made the Eastern league Division 1 team of the year and ran second in the Demons’ best and fairest in 2023.

He also won the best-field medal in the 2017 WRFL grand final as a 19-year-old playing in a losing Sunshine side against Deer Park.

East Brighton coach Nick Jewell said Dessent’s addition was an exciting coup for the club.

“He’s a leader, a big inside mid and has played well in big games, that excited me about him,” he said.

“He was best on ground as a 19-year-old in a grand final against Deer Park, who are a powerhouse of local football.

“With some of our outside players: (Sean) Downie, (Cale) Love-Linay. He’s exactly what we need.

“It’s exciting times to get him on board.”

Ben Dessent has joined East Brighton.

Dessent moved to the area and eventually chose Hurlingham Park as his new home.

Jewell thinks Dessent is joining the Vampires at the perfect time.

“He did a bit of homework and said he liked what we were building and what he’d heard, which is great feedback for the club,” he said.

“I think traditionally the club over a long time has had a good name, what we’re building, the players we’ve brought in and I think we won respect this year with how we went in our first year up (in Division 1).

“A lot of the coaches after every game were super impressed with how we were going, we wanted to finish fourth to sixth to be seen in a good light in Div 1.

“I think we achieved that and the proof is in the pudding I suppose, you put in the work and you attract good players.”

Nick Jewell. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

The Vampires missed finals by only four per cent after collecting nine wins in their first season back in Division 1.

Jewell graded the first season back in the top flight as a success but has his sights on September next season.

“Obviously finals is the goal, we missed out by three or four per cent I think,” he said.

“Depth is where we need to improve, our reserves missed out on percentage as well.

“I think our top six or top eight are as good as anyone’s in the competition, it’s just improving our bottom six, whether it’s the same getting stronger, fitter and playing roles or improving by bringing in a couple more.

“I think that’s the key for good sides, everyone’s top six or eight are similar, it’s just the depth across the 25, 27, 28 players.”

Kai Love-Linay (left) will return in 2025. Picture: Valeriu Campan

ANALYSIS: WHAT DOES ANOTHER GUN MIDFIELDER DO FOR VAMPIRES?

Dessent’s ability to do the grunt work allows East Brighton’s smooth-movers to show their flair more exclusively on the outside.

It could permit superstars Cale Love-Linay and Sean Downie to maximise their damage with shorter bursts in the middle by spending more time across half back or half forward.

Downie finished third in the Vampires’ goal kicking with 14 and Love-Linay was only one major behind with 13.

The addition of Kai Love-Linay next season will also add a layer of flexibility and class to East Brighton’s line-up.

Kai did his knee in the second half of the 2023 season and missed the entirety of 2024.

He was a key player in the Vampires’ eventual premiership side prior to his injury in round 13.