Southern league: East Brighton signs ex-AFL Eagle and MPNFL star

The influx of recruits at East Brighton continues, with the Vampires signing an MPNFL premiership key forward and a former West Coast Eagle.

Tom Lamb and Nick Corp have joined East Brighton. Picture: Facebook

High on East Brighton’s shopping list was a key forward.

Now the Vampires can tick it off, not once but twice, after signing Sorrento centre half-forward Nick Corp and former West Coast Eagle Tom Lamb.

The strong-marking Corp has spent the past seven seasons with Mornington Peninsula Division 1 side Sorrento.

Lamb, who had three years on the West Coast Eagles list from 2015-17, returns to football to play with mates at East Brighton after a few years away from the game.

First gamer Tom Lamb celebrates his first goal with Josh Kennedy. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Nick Corp playing for Sorrento. Picture: Valeriu Campan

At East Brighton, Corp links again with coach Nick Jewell, who was coach of Sorrento when Corp joined the Sharks in 2016.

Corp and Lamb’s signings continues East Brighton’s recruiting spree in the past two months.

The Vampires have unveiled nine recruits and stated they’re focused on winning the Southern league Division 2 flag in 2023.

Newly appointed coach Nick Jewell – who played a key role in bringing the plethora of recruits in – was stoked to be able to add much-needed experience across each line.

“We sort of tried to bolster each line and add some experience in each,” he said.

“I saw a couple of games against Doveton and perhaps Chelsea Heights, and the thing I noticed was a lack of experience out on the ground.

“We have added Tyrren Head and Liam Harris across half back.

“Tyrren Head is a four-time premiership and Team of the Year player; he is a super talented half-back flanker and Sean Downie and Ryan Semmel are A grade midfielders.

“To be able to spread that across the three lines… add Brady Egan who won a premiership last year with Tooradin kicking 40 goals, Tom Lamb and Nick Corp, with Kai Love-Linay who made the Team of the Year (last year), it gives us really strong targets up there.”

East Brighton players last season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With the addition of weaponry Jewell felt the side lacked last year, the Vampires coach is now confident his side can play with a bit more flare and dazzle with ball in hand.

“From what I saw, having lost the elimination final quite convincingly, we were probably 10 goals off those sides,” he said.

“Doveton and – even though we beat Chelsea Heights in the last home and away game – we were anywhere between six and 10 goals off those sides throughout the season.

“We needed to improve the list first and foremost and then add things around it, structure, different style of play, you can only coach what weapons you have – we have a few weapons now.

“We will certainly be looking to hit the scoreboard a bit more and be a bit more aggressive with our ball movement.”

Rosebud midfield star Sean Downie — regarded as one of the very best players in the MPNFL — is a top-drawer Vampires signing.

Downie resides in Clayton, less than 15 minutes from East Brighton’s ground.

“He’s 24 …he was voted MVP as a 21-year-old in a pretty good comp, Division 1 Mornington Peninsula,” East Brighton football operations manager Brendan Stuart said.

“We still think he’s got his best footy ahead of him, really.”

Stuart said Downie would join forces with Vampires joint B&F winners Kai Love-Linay and Blake Cochrane to form a potent midfield.

“We want to get back into Division 1 and go up with some good players,” Stuart said.

“We hope they form the nucleus of our midfield for the next six, seven years.”

EAST BRIGHTON’S 2023 RECRUITS

Liam Harris

Tyrren Head

Ryan Semmel

James Van-Minnen

James McNamara

Sean Downie

Brady Egan

Nick Corp

Tom Lamb