Alex Beardsell leaves St Albans for Bannockburn in GDFL for 2023

The Tigers have enjoyed a busy off-season, landing a St Albans gun to bolster their midfield depth in 2023.

Football GFL: Lara v St Albans at Lara St Albans 1 Alex Beardsell and Lara 34 Thewin Robertson Picture: Mark Wilson

BANNOCKBURN has added more starpower to its list in its quest for a third consecutive GDFL premiership, landing St Albans midfielder Alex Beardsell for the 2023 season.

The former Supersaint played 13 senior games in 2022, being named in the best players six of those games, but will end his 54-game senior career at St Albans after agreeing to play for Bannockburn.

Tigers coach Ron Pilgrim said he was excited to add another weapon to his arsenal.

“We’re trying to be a bit specific with who we try to recruit, but we think Alex will be really good for us,” he said.

“We thought we might need a bit more pace in our side and he’ll do that for us through the midfield and forward groups.

“Alex is Tristian Battaglia’s brother-in-law, so that was our connection to him.

“He’s rapt, he just wanted to have a bit of a run around with his brother-in-law, and he knows we’re a successful club and I think he wants a bit of success to be honest.

Alex Beardsell is moving to Bannockburn. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Alex hasn’t officially signed any deal just yet, that’ll happen at training in the next couple of weeks but he has agreed to play with us next season.”

Beardsell is not the only major signing for the Tigers, with former AFL star Reece Conca joining the ranks for 2023.

Conca played 150 games across an 11-year career with Richmond and Fremantle, and is now a runner for Melbourne.

Pilgrim said the club was still targeting a handful of new players, but the list was solid after decent retention.

“We’re still talking to a few guys but I tried to give everyone Christmas off and let them take their minds away from footy a bit, so we’ll continue those discussion now that we’re in the new year,” he said.

“We’ve got a few training, they haven’t committed just yet but we’re hoping they make their minds up in the next few weeks.

“We’re virtually going to run in without losing too many from last year at this stage, we were getting low 40s at training before Christmas.

“At this stage there’s a couple of guys tossing up whether they’re going to have a run, Josh Cole maybe is not going to play, but we’re going to give him a lot of time to make a decision.

“He’s had another baby not too long ago so he’s still making that decision, but we should be pretty much the same list with a couple of additions.”

Originally published as Alex Beardsell leaves St Albans for Bannockburn in GDFL for 2023