WRFL: Deer Park secures ex-AFL players Jack Redpath and Daniel Harris

Deer Park’s quest for a seventh consecutive Western Region Football League Division 1 premiership has received a significant boost with the signings of three former AFL players.

Jack Redpath has put pen to paper with Deer Park. Picture: Michael Klein

Powerhouse Deer Park’s quest for a seventh consecutive Western Region Football League Division 1 premiership has received a significant boost with the signing of former Western Bulldogs forward Jack Redpath.

The 27-year-old played 36 games in an injury-interrupted seven-year AFL career with the Dogs and retired after the 2018 campaign because of a degenerative knee injury.

The key forward kicked 57 goals at the AFL level after being taken at pick No.62 in the 2012 rookie draft.

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“It’s pretty exciting for the footy club, the region, just to consolidate what we’ve been trying to achieve for a fair while and I’m really looking forward to having him in our forward line,” Lions coach Marc Bullen said.

“After speaking to him on Saturday, he’s looking forward to enjoying his footy.

“The only reason we got him on board is based off his friendship with James Condos. They played together up in Kyneton probably nearly seven or eight years ago now.

“The best thing about footy is the friendships you form and the friendships you keep, and he is keen and lives up the road.”

Dyson Stevens has departed the Lions, while Jason Kennedy and Condos have retired.

But Deer Park has loaded up for a tilt at more history by locking in former AFL-listed players Daniel Harris (Pascoe Vale) and Damien Cavka (Keilor).

Daniel Harris looks for an option for Pascoe Vale this year. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Decorated suburban star Craig Anderson (Pascoe Vale), Troy Kelm and Jeremy Mills (both North Bendigo) have also signed on, while Shaun Harrison has returned.

VAFA club Old Xaverians (1995-2000) is the only other club in metropolitan Melbourne to win six flags in a row in a top-flight competition.

While Redpath’s knee brought a premature end to his AFL career, Bullen said the club had no concerns about his ability to perform at local level.

“He’s very confident in the ability for his knees to hold up,” he said.

“He’s come out of the leadership group at the Doggies and he treats his body and will make sure he gets himself right.

“All we want him to do is play team-first footy – we’re not expecting him to win games for us.

“He’s keen to play every game so hopefully his body will hold up and we’ll get to see him down at (WRFL Division 1 finals venue) Werribee later in the year.

“We’ll start training next Thursday and he’s keen to get stuck into it straight away, which is great.”

Bullen said the faced “challenges from a depth point of view” after former reserves coach Pat Christofi took on the top job at EDFL club East Keilor and took some players with him.

Bullen said “about 95 per cent” of Deer Park’s senior group had recommitted.