VAFA 2021: University Blues set to sign Hugh Goddard and Alex Fasolo

2019 VAFA premier Uni Blues could be about to add to its long list of players with experience at the elite level.

Hugh Goddard celebrates a goal during his days at St Kilda. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

University Blues’ enviable array of elite talent is set to be boosted with two ex-AFL players training with the 2019 Victorian Amateur Football Association premier.

Hugh Goddard and Alex Fasolo are out to secure VFL contracts but have been big-name inclusions at sessions in recent weeks.

Goddard, who was selected at pick No.21 in the 2014 national draft, was delisted by Carlton last year after making two senior appearances in two seasons while he also played 10 matches for St Kilda.

Fasolo was set to spend the 2020 season with Northern league club Montmorency after 104 games for Collingwood and Carlton across nine years.

Uni Blues football manager David Phefley said the club was “hopeful” the duo would take the field in the VAFA, with clearances filed this month.

Alex Fasolo played 104 games at AFL level. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

“They’re still talking with VFL clubs. They’ve trained with us quite a bit, which is a good sign,” Phefley said.

“We’ve got other VFL-listed kids who we don’t see … but players have to have a home club.

“But these two guys have been training and we’re hopeful of getting good seasons out of them.

“They’ve been setting a good example for our younger players, which is part of the reason we like to bring guys with that much experience in. They set high standards on the track.

“But I’m always cautious until I see them run out on to the ground in a black and blue jumper.”

There had been speculation Fasolo would return to Western Australia after he departed Montmorency without playing a game.

His older brother Lewis, who has experience with Sydney University in the defunct NEAFL competition, has also joined the Blues.

Two-time St Joseph’s premiership player Rhys Hultgren is another key in for the top-flight outfit.

Uni Blues’ 2019 premiership team featured nine former AFL players – skipper Ayce Cordy, Josh Green, Cameron O’Shea, Luke Russell, Ross Young, Tom Young, Kieran Harper, Jeremy Taylor and Piers Flanagan.

Green and Russell have since departed, while the Blues are uncertain if they will have the services of Taylor and Flanagan in 2021.

Clayton Hinkley has also exited, while there is a question mark over Connor Lappin.

But on the plus side, former AFL pair Jay Kennedy-Harris and Sam Grimley put pen to paper before last season was canned.

“We have young players who just sit and watch how they (ex-AFL players) prepare,” Phefley said.

“It’s extremely important for us to have access to that kind of top-end talent because we don’t actually have a junior club feeding us. We don’t have the benefit of a secondary school we can go straight to.

“We have to actively recruit and, yes, we get some kids from the country who come down for university, but we have to supplement that with some existing talent.

“We’ve lost some players, we’ve gained some. We’re probably as good as we were, but everybody else will be too. We’ve got to improve on what we did in 2019 just to stay relevant.”

The Blues, who have signed Jarred Moore as coach, will host Old Brighton in the opening round on April 10.