Parkside on a recruiting spree before season 2025

A WFNL club has made a blistering start to the off-season with a large number of signings to boost its finals hopes for next season. And it might be hard to find a busier club.

Bruno Laguda has joined from East Keilor. Picture: Hamish Blair

Pen has been hitting paper at Parkside at an accelerated rate.

The Magpies are moving quickly to prepare for next season with a swag of signings to kickstart their off-season.

It comes after an encouraging return to the Western Football Netball League’s top division, winning four games and if not for what the coaching staff described as lapses in games, it could have been more.

After retaining “95 per cent” of its 2024 playing list, the Magpies look set to be one of the competition’s big improvers.

“Every off-season is busy for us to be honest,” Magpies co-coach Chris Muratore said.

“Obviously, (we have) no juniors, no 18s. You don’t get that luxury of having five or six kids that have played four or five games a year before. We have to recruit every year to make sure our doors are open.

“Social media is big these days, and wherever you can get some publicity and some guys message about wanting to come to your club. We drive that now.

“If you get a couple of freebies along the way, it helps.”

Rhys Smith in action. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Former Essendon VFL player Bruno Laguda is the headline acquisition after crossing from East Keilor in the Essendon District league.

Laguda isn’t the only ex-Cougar making the move with key defender Rhys Smith also set to don the black and white next year.

“We looked at our midfield and feel O’Neill (O’Crieff) and Jacko (Jackson Barrett) are probably two of the better inside players in the competition with their numbers, but we needed to get some support on the outside,” Muratore said.

“Some real x-factor and some guys that can really go to another level.

“We think Bruno and Rhys coming across bring a hard edge and are ready made having been at higher levels. They have quality leadership, are quality people and are ready to rock and roll, and they’re going to have serious impact on our footy club.”

Liam Canny has signed for Parkside from Montrose.

A key part of Parkside’s recruiting was to also bring in some youth.

Muratore said that’s why the likes of Brodie Lyons-Jones, a former Western Jet, and Tasmanian Liam Canny had been targeted.

“Brodie gives us some outside ball use,” he said.

“Liam is a Tasmanian State League footballer, he’s another inside mid who has got a bit of outside class as well.”

Parkside’s acquisition have also included big men Chris Benson and Luke Rowland.

PARKSIDE’S RECRUITS

Matthew Bennardo: Opportunistic forward who has spent the last two seasons with the Northern Saints.

Chris Benson: The big man returns to footy after a year away. Does well to cover the ground.

Liam Canny: A player with silky skills, can play in the middle or up forward. Joins from Montrose and has TSL experience.

Jordyn Croucher: A small forward chasing a new opportunity.

Jordan Filakis: The former Keilor Park vice-captain joins the club, he is capable of playing as an electric forward who can get up the ground.

Bruno Laguda: The former Essendon VFL player will be a big addition to the midfield.

Brodie Lyons-Jones: The exciting young talent joins from St Albans.

Chris Pereira: Makes the move from Tullamarine and also has experience with Keilor.

Luke Rowland: The versatile big man is expected to add power to the forward line.

Rhys Smith: The key defender joins from East Keilor. His resume includes being a former league MVP and two-time club best-and-fairest.