GFNL signings and departures: Every club’s movements from the off-season
It’s been a busy Geelong Football League off-season. Who has your club landed and who has defected to rivals? See every club’s moves here.
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It’s been a busy off-season for some clubs, while others have backed the talent they have.
Who has your club picked up, and who has departed to rivals and other Geelong competitions?
See every move of the off-season so far.
Bell Park
Ben Lloyd (Geelong VFL)
While not a recruit Lloyd has committed as a full-time player after 33 games over the past two seasons for Geelong’s VFL side. He averaged 73 SuperCoach ranking points across 16 games for the Cats this year and will give the Dragons a significant boost this year, having been named in the best in three of his five GFNL matches this year.
Departures: Former Cat Jackson Sheringham announced his retirement at the age of 35.
Colac
Sam Giblett (South Colac)
Colac locked away former South Colac premiership star Sam Giblett for 2024, with the hybrid defender and midfielder helping the club to a flag in 2022.
Geelong West
Departures: A departure of sorts, Tannar Stone has moved to the club’s GDFNL arm. David Peel, who played a handful of games for the Giants’ reserves, has been picked up by Inverleigh.
Grovedale
Tom Gillett (Boulder City)
The Tigers will be boosted by returning star forward Tom Gillett, who last played at Grovedale in 2022, after spending the 2023 season playing for Boulder City in the Goldfields Football League in Western Australia. He dominated in 2023, playing 16 games for Boulder City and booting 82 goals, including a massive 15-goal haul against Kambalda.
Departures: Geelong Falcon and Grovedale junior Ethan Borys has joined grand finalist South Barwon.
Coaching announcement: Jacob Spolding will take the reins from Daniel Fraser as senior coach after being an assistant under Mark Need at South Barwon this year. Spolding was assistant coach of Grovedale for the previous two seasons and coached Newtown & Chillwell from 2011-13. He has an extensive resume, playing 193 VFL games for North Ballarat and Geelong before assistant coaching Werribee for five seasons.
Lara
Departures: Lachie Kane has joined Queenscliff in the BFNL after 15 games for the Cats this year, 11 of those in the seniors.
Leopold
Sam Dukalskis (St Peter’s)
A former SANFL listed player for North Adelaide, Dukalskis stands 200cm and joins the club after making the move to Geelong with his partner. He previously played for St Peters Old Collegians in the Adelaide Football League.
Tom Feely (Geelong VFL)
The former Geelong VFL vice-captain will return full-time at Leopold after playing 14 games for the Cats this season. He played a variety of roles at VFL level this year, kicking seven goals, and also booted five majors from two appearances for the Lions in 2023.
Liam Herbert (Geelong Supercats)
Herbert will play for the Supercats again in the NBL1 next year but will be available to play for Leopold at the end of the season. He is back at the Lions after playing in their grand final side in 2022.
Jack Pitt
Is back at Leopold after taking a year off, playing 18 games for the Lions in 2022 and one game for Geelong’s VFL side.
Tom Scott
Is among the calvary arriving after missing Leopold’s premiership year. Played 19 senior games for the Lions last season.
Departures: Leopold will be without goalkicking machine Mitch Patten, who has moved to Surfers Paradise with his partner, and retiring ruck star Trent West. But Patten said after winning the flag tha the could be back in the future. Premiership player Rob Maibaum is off to Bannockburn having moved to the area during the year, with Bailey Kelly and Fletcher Wilson also heading to the Tigers.
Newtown & Chillwell
Departures: The club suffered a massive double blow, losing superstar midfielders Matt Boag (Torquay) and Blake Sutterby (Geelong Amateur) to their home clubs in the same week. Harrison Orr has also headed to the Ammos.
North Shore
Departures: It’s a fair list of departures for North Shore. Herschelle Carr and Hayden Burns have signed with North Shore, while former captain Patrick Cleary has joined North Geelong as a playing development coach. Geelong VFL listed player Jack Leonard has departed to St Joseph’s after nine games for the Seagulls, while Joel Edwards will join Leonard at the Joeys. Key forward Jordan Lane has also departed to play for Lauderdale in the Tasmania State League.
South Barwon
Ethan Borys (Geelong Falcons/Grovedale)
South Barwon swooped on gun Grovedale junior Borys, who averaged 15.3 disposals, 4.4 intercepts and 75 SuperCoach points in 15 games for the Geelong Falcons this year.
Paddy Kelly (Nullawil)
The Swans nabbed former the Bendigo Pioneer and teenage star from the North Central Football League. Kelly relocated to Geelong at the start of the year to study at Deakin University and travelled home for games throughout the year.
Tom Peirce (Geelong Falcons)
The South Barwon junior has signed with the club after a full season at the Geelong Falcons where he was rock solid down back after moving into the role in the pre-season. The key defender also played a game for Vic Country at the national championships.
St Albans
Departures:Josh Saltalamacchia will play for the club where his his father won a premiership, joining BFNL club Newcomb. Michael Murdoch and Josh Wilson both signed with Belmont Lions in late October.
St Mary’s
Departures: Premiership players Ryley Hall, Doug Bond and Nick Nott have all made the call to retire from the GFNL. All three played pivotal roles in the Saints’ success, with Hall helping them to two flags across his 95 games for the club, while Bond (106 games, 2019 premiership player) and Nott (28 games, 2022) also tasted the ultimate with the club.
St Joseph’s
James Gow (Koroit)
The club’s 2022 best-and-fairest returns after playing with Koroit in the Hampden FNL. He was named in the best in nine of his 11 games for Koroit.
Jack Leonard (North Shore)
Leonard was on Geelong’s VFL list this year but didn't play a game, instead making nine appearances for North Shore. He played two games for the Cats last season.
Joel Edwards (North Shore)
The former Geelong Falcons is back at his junior club. Leonard played eight games for North Shore and eight matches for Labrador in the QAFL this year, kicking 19 goals across both competitions.
Luke Webb (Starthfieldsaye)
Another familiar face, Webb returns after a season in the Bendigo FNL for Strathfieldsaye. He was named in the best on 10 occasions from his 21 games this season, having last played for Joeys in 2022.
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Originally published as GFNL signings and departures: Every club’s movements from the off-season
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