VAFA: All the last minute VAFA deals in the divisions

A former Melbourne captain is set to make a move to a VAFA premiership contender to play alongside mates while several other divisional clubs have landed impressive mid-season signings.

Luke Ashen is enjoying a fine season. Picture: Andrew Batsch

VAFA Divisional clubs have made big moves at the clearance deadline.

One which caught our eyes in the divisions was a former Melbourne skipper putting in a clearance to a Division 1 contender.

Nathan Jones has been cleared to play for Old Peninsula alongside mates. He last played for Mt Eliza in the MPFNL in 2023, featuring in six games.

He’ll be joined by great mate Sam Gill who has also been approved. It’s understood Jones and the club are still working through a potential appearance date.

Whitefriars has boosted its playing stocks for the rest of the season with the arrival of Evan Smeed. He hasn’t played up until this point of the season but was a regular senior contributor for Eastern league club Park Orchards in recent years.

Good news for St Mary’s Salesian heading into the run in. They’ve welcomed back D’Arcy Grant who last played for Oakleigh District in the EFNL. Grant was the runner-up in the Saints 2021 senior best-and-fairest.

At the other end of the ladder, an interesting name to keep an eye on is Michael Johnson. He’s been cleared to Hawthorn. Johnson is a former Berwick star and was a premiership player in the outer east league.

‘I was pretty confident’: Inside Oakleigh star’s impact

Luke Ashen sits top of the VAFA Division 1 goalkicking charts but he’s impact is much more than the scoreboard according to Oakleigh coach Chris Worner.

The Krushers star has booted 53 goals in 10 games with his side now just percentage outside of the top-four.

He booted eight goals in the 42-point win over Brunswick on the weekend to continue his fine form.

Ashen has been the main man up forward this season and has played a key role in filling the gap left by Aaron Cloke’s departure at the end of 2024.

“I saw glimpses of what he could do in pre-season and I knew straight away there were going to be games where he would kick bags,” Worner said.

“I was pretty confident he was going to be able to lead our scoring power up forward. But it’s not the goals which have impressed me the most, it’s how the young kids playing around him are learning.

“Most weeks, we’ve got five or six 16 or 17-year-olds in our side and they’re stepping up around him. They stand a little taller. Luke gets up the ground sometimes and it really lets them run and jump at the footy.

“His leadership and direction for them has been really beneficial.”

One youngster who is thriving in the new look forward line is Jay Rossington, who had only played about 10 senior games, before the start of the season.

He kicked four in the victory.

“He had a really good pre-season and that’s only given him more confidence,” Worner said.

“We’re such a young side so there’s always going to be weeks where we are down. It’s nice getting the wins now and hopefully there’s more to come in the not too distant future.”

Oakleigh kicked an impressive 21.9 (135) in the victory which was a pleasing part of the performance for Worner.

Overall, he said he has been pleased with the brand of footy his side has played this season.

“We feel it’s brand which stacks up against the best,” he said.

“And that’s going to give the boys a lot of confidence heading into the back half of the season. The way we’re moving the footy and our structures around the ball, we know it’s good enough to test the best sides.”

ORMOND’S WILDCARDS, BIG NAME LOOMS

Lachlan Crnogorac and Tom Nicholls are shaping as wildcards in Ormond’s premiership bid. The pair have only played six games apiece this season and were in dominant form during the game over Therry Penola. Nicholls finished with 10 majors while Crnogorac booted six to highlight the point of difference they could be set to add up forward. The good news keeps coming for the Monders with former VFL big man Lachlan Filipovic putting in a clearance to the club. He hasn’t played for Old Brighton this season and is a former Ormond junior.

Lachlan Filipovic is joining Ormond. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

HEATON A KEY FOR THE BEARS

Sam Heaton is enjoying a fine run of form since returning to the Bears’ line-up in Round 9. He’s now got 11 goals in his last three outings including five in the 50-point win over Elsternwick on the weekend. His presence will be vital for the second half of the year.

A NEW LADDER LEADER

Old Yarra Cobras have climbed to the top of the Division 2 ladder on the back of a 58-point win over South Melbourne Districts. Matthew Young booted with in the win with Rory Chipman the best player on the ground. The Cobras were able to move top after Canterbury shocked St Mary’s Salesian by 24 points to continue an impressive run of form. Matt Fotia moved back forward and kicked four goals while gun youngster Ryder Daffy booted three in the win.

MUCH BETTER FROM THE UNICORNS

Ruckman Will Suhr’s mid-season return to MHSOB is proving a win after he was best afield in a big win over Hawthorn on Saturday. It was a bounce-back performance from the Unicorns. Suhr has now played six games after starting the year with Somerville. Will Hellier returned to the line-up with five goals.

Will Suhr has been a welcome return for MHSOB.

NORTH KEEP TOUCH

Is Blake Williams the best forward in Division 3? The Box Hill North star booted six goals against North Brunswick on the weekend as his side secured an impressive 23-point win over North Brunswick to keep touch with the top-four. Williams leads all comers in the division with 48.

FALCONS DO IT FOR MILESTONE MAN

Matt ‘Pinky’ Pihkanen celebrated his 50th game for Albert Park on the weekend and was named in the best as his side recorded an upset win over Wattle Park. The Falcons are one of the form teams of the competition with five wins in a row to sit just outside the top-four by one game.