Southern league: VFL player Nick Burke joins Division 1 club Cheltenham

Two players who appeared in the VFL last year will be welcome additions to the Southern league in 2022.

Nick Burke on the training track with Geelong.

Des Ryan is unsure how often he’ll see Nick Burke this year.

But the Cheltenham senior coach does know that when Burke plays for the Rosellas, he’ll play well.

The former Sandringham Dragons onballer is listing Chelt as his home club this year as he shifts his VFL career from Geelong to Port Melbourne.

His father, John, was a premiership player with the Rosellas.

Nick Burke figured in six flags in six years as a Beaumaris junior and Ryan coached him at Under 16 and 17 level.

“He’s a beauty, young Nick,’’ Ryan said.

“I’ve had a long association with him and he’s a good player.

“He’s put on a bit of weight and a bit of size and he’s a good decision-maker and a good kick.

“I would think he would get some chances at Port, especially being an Under 23 year old who can fill one of those compulsory spots.

“He’s still going on with his footy. He hasn’t succumbed to not being drafted and isn’t going through the motions. He’s still working at his football.’’

Burke is the most notable recruit for the Rosellas, who were 10-2 and second on the ladder when the Southern league Division 1 season was abandoned last year because of Covid.

Nick Bufalo playing for De La Salle. He’s joined Bentleigh.

Young onballer Anthony Malamas is their most prominent departure.

Finn Ryan and Sam Hayes continue to train with VFL club Frankston and young Austin Johnson is on the track with Richmond VFL.

Ryan reported that star forward Josh Fox and former Adelaide Crows wingman Myke Cooke were “training the joint down’’. Both have had serious knee injuries in their time with the Rosellas.

“We’re looking pretty healthy,’’ Ryan said.

“We’re just hoping to get in a full season of footy and see what we can do.’’

Bentleigh has made a good signing, locking in De La Salle’s Nicholas Bufalo.

The 21-year-old played one VFL game for Sandringham last year and a few NAB League matches with Sandringham Dragons in 2018 and ’19.

He won a VAFA Rising Star last year, with the club noting his strengths as “a penetrating kick, dynamic line breaking abilities and he has been making big improvements in his defensive craft’’.

“Nick is a quiet achieving, highly determined, driven young man.”