Reigning premiers Leopold land VFL flag winner Jay Dahlhaus and former Geelong West tall Tylar Watts

Leopold had been quiet this off-season, but now the Lions have secured two quality players — one of those from a Geelong league rival.

Tylar Watts competes in a contest. Picture: Mark Wilson

Reigning premier Leopold has landed Werribee flag goalsneak Jay Dalhaus and big man Tylar Watts from a Geelong league rival in the club’s first big signings under new coach Luke Kelly.

The talented pair officially signed with the club on Tuesday afternoon as the club strives to win its third consecutive premiership.

A 198 centimetre ruck-key forward, Watts, 24, has crossed from Geelong West where he spent the past four seasons and recently joined Dahlhaus at Werribee VFL.

The in-demand Watts is the latest high-profile departure from the Giants, with Mathieson Medal runner-up Tanner Lovell and former Geelong VFL player Jamieson Ballantyne returning to Portland, and ex-Werribee midfielder Emmanuel Ajang moving to SANFL club South Adelaide.

Kelly arrived at the club himself this off-season after more than a decade in the AFL industry in various analyst and coaching roles.

He said connections played a role in securing both, with Dahlhaus the cousin of Leopold product and Western Bulldogs premiership player Luke, and Watts from the south-west corner of Victoria.

Jay Dahlhaus (left) celebrates a goal in the grand final last year. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“I think a few of the guys (Tylar) was close with had moved and so I think he was sort of weighing up where he wanted to play his footy,” Kelly said.

“He definitely had a few suitors early days, but I think he has already got some established relationships with a few of the boys at our club.

“It is almost like the South-west Leopold Lions from Warrnambool, Portland, these guys. So we’ve got enough guys that he’s mates with or knows, so he was comfortable pretty quickly.

“The beauty with him is he has the flexibility to play key position elsewhere, he keeps telling us he can be a centre half back as well if we wanted.

“But I think as the year goes on will definitely see a bit more of him forward, but initially his skillset says he can be a high possession ruckman for us, that’s gold in this day and age.”

Dahlhaus is a senior regular for Werribee – he didn’t play one game for his interchange club Sebastopol last season – but the Lions will welcome him with open arms if he is ever available.

The 24-year-old booted 33 goals in 19 games across the VFL season and was named in the best in Werribee’s grand final win over Southport.

“Clearly he is entrenched at Werribee and one of their best players. The Dahlhaus name at Leopold is pretty synonymous, so had a couple of chats with him and he was pretty keen so we are lucky enough to add a pretty quality person to our footy club,” Kelly said.

“Anytime you get quality like that, you get to expose the rest of your group to a high standard of player like him, you can never say no. First and foremost a high quality person, so just being around is great but when you get to highlight some standards.”

Leopold has lost several ley players over the off-season with intercept king Tevan Nofi joining Anglesea and Ollie Tate, Jye Cross and Tom Gordon all retiring.

Kelly expects Billy Clark and Billy Ritchie to spend more time through the midfield this season and highlighted silky halfback Lachie McLean and athletic wingman Darcy Brislane as two youngsters who can help fill the void.

“A couple of notables are Lachie Maclean and Darcy Brislane at the moment that look like they can add to us early,” Kelly said.

Leopold will face Eastern league side Vermont in their sole practice match against opposition in April.

Originally published as Reigning premiers Leopold land VFL flag winner Jay Dahlhaus and former Geelong West tall Tylar Watts