WRFL: Luke Dahlhaus, Paul Tsapatolis, Simon Deery sign with Point Cook

A decade long connection has landed a Western Region league club its third major signing of the off-season.

Luke Dalhaus. 2016 AFL Grand Final match between the Western Bulldogs and the Sydney Swans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia on October 1, 2016. Picture: Tim Carrafa

A monster off-season at Point Cook has gone to another level.

The Bulldogs have added a third big name recruit with country footy star Simon Deery signing for the Western Region League club.

Deery’s arrival follows the announcement of former Geelong duo Luke Dahlhaus and Paul Tsapatolis.

Deery, who played over 50 VFL games for three different clubs, has previously played with new senior coach Clay Smith during the pair’s time together at the Gippsland Power when they were teenagers.

In recent years, he has been a star of the Gippsland League with Bairnsdale where he has earned multiple team of the year selection and was voted the competition’s Most Valuable player in 2018.

“The club is excited to have Simon on board for 2023 and believe his VFL experience will be a great asset to our young and emerging group,” Point Cook said in a social media.

Big Cat becomes a Dog

Another former AFL Cat is set to call the Point Cook kennel home in 2023.

The Western Region Football League Division 1 club has continued its impressive recruiting spree with the signing of former Geelong big man Paul Tsapatolis for the 2023 season.

Despite not playing an AFL game, the former Yarraville Seddon junior featured in the VFL on 12 occasions throughout the past season.

His arrival comes just days after Point Cook confirmed the arrival of Luke Dahlhaus.

“The club is excited to have Paul on board for 2023 and believe he will be a great asset to our ruck stocks alongside Andrew Robinson,” Point Cook said in a social media post.

Tsapatolis is a former Australian junior basketballer, wearing the green and gold at under 17 level.

He earned a place on the Cats list as a category B rookie back in 2020.

EARLIER

Luke Dahlhaus is set to wear familiar colours in 2023.

After announcing his AFL retirement at the end of the season, the 30-year-old has signed with Point Cook for next year.

The Western Region Football League club will be coached by Dahlhaus’ 2016 Western Bulldogs premiership teammate Clay Smith next season.

Point Cook boasts one of the most exciting young list in the competition and president Ivo Havard believes Dahlhaus’ experience will be extremely beneficial.

“It’s a bloody good get,” he said with excitement.

“He’s a very experienced guy who is going to be able to provide on-field lessons for our boys with Clay not playing. His signing is so much more than his name. They’ve got an AFL premiership together and it’s fantastic they’re able to come back together.

“Luke said he wanted to get it done as quickly as possible so the phone calls would stop. He’s the type of recruit we targeted so hopefully he can help set the platform for the next five to six years.

“We should still get some good years out of him hopefully. We’re very happy with him.”

Dahlhaus isn’t set to be the only arrival at Saltwater Reserve this off-season either with Havard revealing the club was still in discussions with potential new faces.

That’s on the back of key players including former Richmond utility Derek Eggmolesse-Smith re-signing with the club.

Skipper Nick Buyx has also been locked in after a magnificent season as one of the WRFL’s most consistent players.

“We’re targeting guys between that 28-30 age group,” Havard said.

“We think they’ll compliment our young guys really well. The players coming through have shown some really good signs so far and we believe they’re going to continue developing at a high level.

“The club believes we can take a couple of steps forward next year.”

Smith will take charge of the Dogs after serving as an assistant coach under former mentor Brett Jacobs this season.

Although there’s no concern about the transition between the pair.

“Brett was integral to setting everything up,” he said.

“He went through some tough times but he has helped us to get to this point. Clay is a likeable character, you can’t help but like the bloke.

“We’re really confident about the path we’re on.”

Point Cook finished the 2022 season ninth on the ladder, three games clear of Sunshine who were relegated.