VAFA: Old Ivanhoe pick up ex-AFL midfielder Patrick Naish

Old Ivanhoe has pulled off a surprise recruit ahead of the season, bringing in a former AFL midfielder to bolster their line-up. Read more.

Old Ivanhoe has received a boost to its list on the eve of the VAFA season with the signing of former AFL midfielder Patrick Naish.

The VAFA Premier C club picked up the 24-year-old late in pre-season after a deal with Ovens and Murray club Wangaratta Rovers fell through where Naish was originally training.

Naish joins ex-VFL players Nick Riddle and Billy Murphy in arriving at Chelsworth Park for 2023.

The 59-year-old club finished in fifth place last campaign, narrowly missing out on finals by percentage to Old Geelong who ended up being promoted to Premier B.

Naish was drafted to Richmond at pick No. 34 in 2017 AFL national draft.

He made his debut in Round 12, 2019 against Geelong and went on to play nine games for the famous club.

Patrick Naish in action for Richmond during his AFL debut against Geelong on Friday, June 7, 2019. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Naish was a part of the club’s VFL premiership-winning side in 2019.

In 2022, the former Ivanhoe Grammar student joined West Coast where he played 11 games for the season.

Hoers coach Jarrod Gieschen was stoked to have Naish on board.

“We’re thriller, very excited,” Gieschen said.

“He is well known to our playing group given he went to school at Ivanhoe Grammar and he lives with one of our captains Harry Frazer.

“He was doing a pre-season with Box Hill and he was looking to play at Wangaratta Rovers but I think at the last minute, they had some challenges with the points system.

“And therefore he came to training last week and has decided he wants to play with his mates this year and just really enjoy his footy.”

Gieschen confirmed Naish would be available for the Hoers full-time this season as he balances a new job with Kookaburra Sport in their sales team.

With the late addition of Naish, Gieschen said he had throw the magnets around, hinting that the top recruit could compliment the midfield group.

“We have probably made a few tweaks to our game plan,” he said.

“He is a beautiful kick of the football.

“He kicks it a long way and is very accurate so the more times we can get the ball in his hands, the better, I would have thought.”

Gieschen said the standard of training went up since his arrival.

“He has trained three or four times now and I think the whole place has just lifted with him out there,” he said.

“His experience at the higher level and knowledge of the game is really strong.

“I think he is a natural leader and I think he has just brought standards to the group.

“People look up to him obviously with the experience he has got so I think everybody has lifted with him out there, that’s for sure.”