The biggest local footy off-season signings in Melbourne
It’s been another busy off-season for suburban clubs across Melbourne. Ahead of this weekend’s competition launch, here’s a list of the biggest movements.
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From ex-AFL players returning to junior clubs, to decorated suburban stars joining rival clubs, it has been a busy local footy off-season.
Here are some of the big names to keep an eye on in 2019.
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Tom Bell (Greensborough, NFL)
Greensborough secured one of the signings of the off-season, adding former Brisbane Lions and Carlton midfielder Bell on a two-year deal. Bell, who played 51 games for the Blues and 21 matches for the Lions after being drafted in 2012, joins the Boro as a playing assistant coach. Originally from Queensland, Bell had no shortage of suitors when he was delisted by Brisbane at the end last season.
Daniel Harris (North Heidelberg, NFL)
Just months after he was unveiled as one of Deer Park’s recruits, former North Melbourne and Gold Coast midfielder Harris switched clubs and will line up for North Heidelberg this year. He has spent the past three seasons with EDFL club Pascoe Vale.
Shane Biggs (North Heidelberg, NFL)
In an early Christmas present for North Heidelberg, Biggs put pen to paper with the Division 1 club in early December. The defender was a member of the Western Bulldogs’ 2016 flag and joins North Melbourne premiership player and AFL games record holder Brent Harvey at Shelley Reserve. Biggs played 63 games across six seasons at the Bulldogs and Sydney.
Daniel Venditti (Bundoora, NFL)
The three-time VFL best-and-fairest winner is a significant coup for perennial flag contender Bundoora. The midfielder has returned to Melbourne after a season playing for Central Highlands club Beaufort. Venditti featured for Coburg more than 50 times at VFL level.
Ricky Dyson (Banyule, NFL)
The former Essendon player crosses to Banyule after six seasons with Bundoora, featuring in premiership sides in 2013 and 2017. Dyson was coach of the Bulls’ flag-winning side two years ago and has made the decision to play under brother-in-law Paul Harris in conjunction with a coaching role with Essendon’s VFL side.
Jaryd Cachia (Aberfeldie, EDFL)
Described as a “contested beast” by Aberfeldie co-coach Luke Blackwell, Cachia is a massive acquisition for the reigning EDFL premier. Cachia has spent the past two years with Strathmore, claiming its best and fairest in 2017 and finishing runner-up in the Reynolds Medal for the league medal in Premier Division in the same year. Cachia played 14 games for Carlton in 2013 and has also had stints in the VFL and SANFL.
Cameron Cloke (Jacana, EDFL)
Cloke has signed on as a playing assistant coach at Jacana after a season away. The 34-year-old played 58 games at AFL level and is set to cause defenders plenty of headaches in Division 2, having booted 127 goals in 2017 as the Jaguars powered their way to the flag. Cloke played five matches for Hurstbridge in the NFL last year before crossing to Murray league club Barooga and contributing 36 majors from 11 games.
Robbie Castello (Westmeadows, EDFL)
How often we will see Robbie Castello in action for Westmeadows in 2019 is unknown because of work commitments with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. But the former Werribee VFL skipper is a massive get for the EDFL Division 1 club after a four-year stint as playing coach at Maribyrnong Park.
Kyle Hardingham (Essendon Doutta Stars, EDFL)
The former Essendon livewire has taken on the top job at Essendon Doutta Stars after a stint at Pascoe Vale, but he will also add plenty on the field. Hardingham made 65 appearances for the Bombers at AFL level from 2010-2014. He finished equal second in Pascoe Vale’s best and fairest last season.
Liam Ogden (Pascoe Vale, EDFL)
The country football champion arrives at Pascoe Vale with a decorated resume. Ogden was the only Kyabram player to feature in all 62 games of the Goulburn Valley club’s remarkable winning run. The gun midfielder is a triple premiership player, two-time best and fairest winner, five-time GVFL interleague representative and has made the GVFL Team of the Year on six occasions.
Marc Holt (Karingal, MPNFL)
The prolific goalkicker made headlines last year when he booted his 1000th goal for Cranbourne. He then made headlines again when he signed with Karingal for the 2019 MPNFL season. The burly right-footer has played all his senior football at Cranny and won a truckload of awards in the South East (formerly Casey Cardinia) league.
Brendan Fevola (Hastings, MPNFL)
Former Carlton and Brisbane champion Fevola signed to play with the Hastings Blues for season 2019 last August in a major coup. With rumours he was keen to play again after achilles surgery sidelined him last season, Hastings swooped. Fevola is with the club full-time but will miss some games because of work commitments.
Robin Nahas (Pines, MPNFL)
The former AFL small forward has joined ex-Richmond teammate Aaron Edwards at Pines after two seasons at VFL club Port Melbourne. His appearances will be limited because of his duties as an assistant coach at Port.
Sam Gibson (Sorrento, MPNFL)
Former North Melbourne and Adelaide Crows midfielder Gibson is the star recruit to a strong Sorrento list, which includes ex-AFL players Luke Tapscott, Mitch Hallahan and Luke Lowden. The durable Gibson played 130 consecutive games for the Kangaroos between 2012 and 2017 before switching to Adelaide.
Jack Redpath (Deer Park, WRFL)
Deer Park is vying for a record seventh consecutive Division 1 flag in the WRFL this season and the club has had no shortage of big names during that period of dominance. Former Western Bulldogs forward Redpath arrives after 36 games and 57 goals at AFL level.
Adam Cooney (Spotswood, WRFL)
Brownlow medallist Cooney has been training strongly with WRFL Division 1 club Spotswood and put pen to paper with the Woodsmen last month. Cooney could play up to 10 games around his media commitments in a significant boost as Spotswood chases its first grand final appearance since 2014. Cooney made 250 appearances for Western Bulldogs and Essendon in a decorated 13-year AFL career.
Andrejs Everitt (Yarraville-Seddon, WRFL)
Just days after its shock loss in last year’s Division 2 decider, Yarraville-Seddon unveiled Everitt as its star signing. Everitt played 131 games for Western Bulldogs, Sydney and Carlton in a 10-year AFL career and has spent the past two seasons coaching Somerville in the MPNFL.
Steve Kennedy (Altona, WRFL)
Star midfielder Kennedy is back at Altona after a season with Darley in the Ballarat league. Kennedy has enjoyed a decorated career and claimed the Barry Priest Medal, awarded to the best-and-fairest player in WRFL Division 1, in 2017.
Matt Perri (Wallan, RDFL)
Former Leitchville-Gunbower star Perri will be roaming Wallan’s forward half after kicking 342 goals in the past four years in the Heathcote District league. He booted an incredible 124 majors in 2017 and has not been held goalless in the past two years, underlining his consistency.
Gavin Urquhart (Riddell, RDFL)
The ex-North Melbourne player has established a reputation as one of the most consistent players in the EDFL since 2013 during stints with Airport West and Pascoe Vale. He has crossed to Riddell, which lost last year’s RDFL grand final to Diggers Rest, and should make a sizeable impact.
Brendon Goddard (Caulfield Grammar, VAFA)
Goddard will return to his roots this year with VAFA club Caulfield Grammarians.
The Premier B outfit announced the major recruiting coup on Monday night, confirming former Caulfield Grammar student Goddard would play in the ammos in 2019.
John Milhuisen (Balwyn, EFL)
The four-time premiership Tiger is back at Cherry Rd after a stint with VAFA club Old Xaverians. Milhuisen played in Balwyn’s 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 flags and was an integral member of the club’s run of four flags in five years.
Xavier Richards (Balwyn, EFL)
Hard to imagine Richards’ final game at the elite level was the 2016 grand final before his bizarre exit from Sydney. Has returned to Melbourne and signed with Balwyn, where he will be looking to take the Tigers back to the top five after missing the finals for the first time in 23 years last season.
Michael Apeness (North Ringwood, EFL)
North Ringwood’s quest to end a 28-year drought from top-tier finals received significant shot with the signing of former Fremantle tall Apeness. The 200cm, 105kg ruckman spent five years on Fremantle’s list, cracking 12 games after being taken as a first-round pick in the 2013 draft.
Ryan Morrison (Norwood, EFL)
Noble Park suffered a fierce blow when full back Morrison told the Bulls he would be transferring to Norwood. Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty declared last season that AFL clubs should be looking at the star defender.
Ryan Mullett (Vermont, EFL)
Hardly a more decorated player in the suburban game. And at 36, Mullett is making a return to the Eastern Football League, where he is revered as one of the competition’s greatest players.
Robbie Ross (Vermont, EFL)
The 31-year-old has spent the past five years at AFL Outer East club Wandin, where he played in two premierships, but will be back where his career began in 2019. The towering ruckman won Vermont’s best and fairest in the premiership year of 2009 and also played in the hat-trick of flags from 2005 to 2007.
Max Warren (South Croydon, EFL)
Warren won Box Hill Hawks’ best-and-fairest in 2017 before sidelined by a knee injury last year. Played one AFL game for North Melbourne and is one of four Box Hill players to have signed at South Croydon.
Mitch Honeychurch (Vermont, EFL)
Delisted Bulldog Mitch Honeychurch will return to his junior club Vermont this year in another recruiting boon for the defending Eastern Football League premier. Honeychurch was last year cut by the Western Bulldogs, where he played 35 AFL games across five seasons, also playing in the 2014 and 2016 VFL flags.
Billy Hartung (St Bedes Mentone Tigers, VAFA)
Hartung played 13 AFL games for North Melbourne last season, but this year he’ll play in the VAFA Premier B section. The 24-year-old was linked with his junior club Red Hill, but he has been training with the Tigers for a few weeks and the club has lodged his registration with VAFA HQ.
Jarrad Waite (St Kevin’s, VAFA)
Waite, 36, has joined VAFA club St Kevin’s Old Boys, strengthening a team that has won the past two Premier section flags. He was linked with North Heidelberg and Sorrento but ultimately signed with the two-time reigning premiers.
Rohan Bewick (Old Xaverians, VAFA)
Bewick, 29, has linked with Old Xaverians, giving new coach Paul Satterley’s plans a boost for 2019. Bewick brings to Xavs the experience of 103 AFL matches. Originally from WA, he made his debut for the Lions in 2011 and continued through to last year.
Harley Balic (Parkdale Vultures, VAFA)
After two seasons with Fremantle, the half-forward joined Melbourne this year but left the club in August. Coach Owen Lalor wants Balic to rediscover his love of the game after three years at the elite level.
Nathan Batsanis (Doncaster, EFL)
Doncaster bolstered its midfield stocks for 2019 after signing two-time state league premiership player Nathan Batsanis in December. Batsanis played in Port Melbourne’s 2011 premiership and Norwood’s SANFL flag the following season.
Aaron Mullett (Mooroolbark, EFL)
Mullett is taking his football career back to where it began. After a 98-match AFL career, the former Roo and Blue signed as a playing assistant coach with Mooroolbark.
Chris Phelan (Doncaster East, EFL)
Decorated WAFL star Phelan joined good mate Simon White at Doncaster East in a major boost to the Lions’ bid to join the Eastern league’s top-flight for the first time in the club’s history. Won three premierships at Subiaco and was a dual best-and-fairest winner.
Dennis Armfield (Park Orchards, EFL)
Park Orchards secured a coaching coup when it announced it had signed former Carlton fan favourite Armfield as its new playing mentor. Armfield was a playing assistant coach at Essendon District league club Avondale Heights last season.
Chris Deluca (Port Melbourne Colts, SFNL)
Deluca figured in Subiaco’s 2014 premiership team and has been tipped to have a big impact in the Southern league. Former Western Bulldogs star Lindsay Gilbee will also be Port Melbourne Colts’ senior coach this year.
Sam Fisher and Raph Clarke (St Kilda City, SFNL)
There’s a bit of buzz about St Kilda City after the recruitment of former St Kilda players Fisher and Clarke. The pair will be back in the red, white and black jumper, lending experience and more than a dash of class to the Southern Division 1 outfit.
Dylan Weickhardt and Myke Cook (Cheltenham, SFNL)
Three weeks after signing Sandringham vice-captain Dylan Weickhardt in October, the Rosellas secured Zebras co-captain and VFL stalwart Myke Cook. Cook was drafted to Adelaide, where he managed 14 AFL games.
Jack Davis (Cheltenham, SFNL)
A versatile player, Davis will play a key role for the club next year through midfield and up forward. Davis was Sydney Swans academy member, played 16 games for Swans’ reserves and a further 40 VFL development appearances with Sandringham.
Jack Grimes (Warrandyte, EFL)
The ex-Melbourne captain will join brothers Tom (Hurstbridge) and Nathan (Corryong) at the Division 3 club this year. Spent 2017 at junior club Hurstbridge but has transferred to the Eastern league.
Ryan Semmel (Mordialloc, SFNL)
A star of The Recruit is a star recruit for Mordialloc. Semmel, who earned a burst of publicity and paraded his skills in the football reality TV program in 2014, has joined the Bloodhounds for this season. Semmel snared three league medals, three club best and fairests and was co-coach for one season six-year stop at Heathcote District club Huntly.
Hamish McIntosh (Gembrook Cockatoo, AFL Outer East)
Former North Melbourne teammates McIntosh and Michael Firrito are set to be reunited at Gembrook Cockatoo this year. McIntosh, a 203cm ruckman with 126 AFL games under his belt, has spent three seasons with Essendon District club Strathmore, where he played alongside Firrito.
Brad Sutcliffe (Port Melbourne Colts, SFNL)
Club great Sutcliffe is back after a stint in the Essendon District league with Westmeadows, where he won the 2017 best and fairest. Sutcliffe played 17 VFL games with Port Melbourne and made 131 appearances in Division 1 of the WRFL.
Daniel Gorringe (Wandin, AFL Outer East)
Former Gold Coast and Carlton tall Daniel Gorringe will have a new local football home in 2019 after being released from his contract at Park Orchards. The Sharks approved for the 26-game AFL player to join Wandin after six previous transfers were denied.
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