Sale, Port Fairy, Sandhurst and Mooroopna: Recruiting coups in lead-up to 2023 season

The country footy season is fast approaching and clubs are still recruiting top-line players. See the latest developements.

Reigning Maffra best and fairest winner Hudson Holmes has switched to arch rival Sale in one of the biggest recruiting moves of the Gippsland league off-season.

Holmes, who also finished sixth in the league best and fairest award, joins another former Maffra player at Sale in coach Jack Johnstone.

He is presently training with VFL club Port Melbourne where older brother Nash plays.

When available, Holmes will be a ready-made replacement across halfback for Sale following the loss of Ryan Pendelbury to Euroa.

Sale coach Jack Johnstone, right. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“(Holmes) has had a bit of an injury-ravaged career, but got his body right last year,” Johnstone said.

“He has made it through to the last stages of the cuts at Port Melbourne.

“He grew up in Sale and has got a lot of friends there.

“He loves Maffra, as did I, but he wanted the chance to come back and play some good footy with his mates.

“Hudson shows very similar attributes to what Ryan does.

“He’s a great intercept mark, a great kick and a great user of the footy.”

Johnstone played in Maffra’s most recent premiership win in 2019 before taking on the Sale coaching job at the end of 2020 when the season was cancelled due to Covid.

Sale finished runner-up to Leongatha last year.

Holmes played junior football with Maffra, where his father, Ken, was a former player.

Hudson Holmes playing for Maffra last year tackles a Traralgon opponent. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Sale and Maffra have one of the fiercest rivalries in Gippsland.

Since last year’s grand final loss, Sale has also secured former junior and Vic Country under-18 representative Cody Henness, who played eight games at VFL level for Sandringham in 2022.

HAMPDEN

Last season’s wooden spooner Port Fairy has pulled off a stunning recruiting coup with the signing of star forward Jason Rowan from rival club Warrnambool.

Rowan will reunite with former Warrnambool coach and player Dustin McCorkell, who agreed to take on the tough job of resurrecting Port Fairy following a winless season last year that included forfeiting one senior match.

Rowan has kicked 995 goals and won the Hampden league goal kicking award eight times.

Jason Rowan has switched from Warrnambool to Port Fairy. Picture: Geoff Rounds

He is set to become only the second Hampden league player to kick more than 1000 goals with Tony Russell achieving the feat when he captain-coached Port Fairy in the mid-1990s.

“The past couple of years have been pretty tough at Port Fairy for a variety of reasons,” McCorkell said.

“Obviously Covid, a few injuries and a bit of motivation.

“We’ve got some great players returning to the club and some new players as well.

“(Rowan) really likes what we’re doing at Port Fairy by basically creating a new team with young kids.”

Dustin McCorkell, right, representing the Hampden league against Ovens and Murray in 2012. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Rowan booted bags of 16 and 15 goals against Port Fairy last year.

More than 10 players who didn’t play for Port Fairy last year are expected to line up in round one this year including three Gunning brothers, Josh, Dylan and Lochie, who have all returned.

“We’re hoping we can be competitive,” McCorkell said.

“Our reserves team last year forfeited half the season and our senior team forfeited one game also.

“We set ourselves to basically recruit 25 players, which is a pretty big job.

“I’m not the only one who has put my hand up to help.

“A lot of people around town realised that we needed more volunteers and others to help out or we wouldn’t have a club.

“We’ve got a lot of hands on deck and both on and off field people want to see improvement.”

BENDIGO

Former Carlton and Richmond player Andrew Collins is returning to Sandhurst in search of an elusive Bendigo league flag at the end of his career.

Collins previously played and coached at Sandhurst before returning to Bridgewater in the Loddon Valley league in 2021.

The 34-year-old was drafted by Richmond in 2006 and played 25 matches with the Tigers and a further 11 at Carlton.

At the end of his AFL career, Collins coached Bridgewater to back-to-back flags in 2014-15 and played in another in 2016 as a part of a record streak of seven successive premierships.

Sandhurst finished fifth last year and has been highly active in the off-season.

It has lured Bryce Curnow after he coached Kerang to the Central Murray league premiership last year after previously playing in the Bendigo league for Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square.

Andrew Collins on his farm near Bridgewater. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Curnow, who will co-coach Sandhurst alongside Ash Connick, said Collins would be a valuable addition.

“He has won every single award at Bridgewater and played and coached in premierships,” Curnow said.

“He felt like he had ticked a lot of boxes and was pretty curious.

“And while he still had it left in his body he would have one last crack.

“But we’re under no impression that a couple of recruits means you instantly win games.”

Collingwood VFL best and fairest Lachlan Tardrew will also line up for Sandhurst as will former Castlemaine player Will Moran.

GOULBURN VALLEY

Mooroopna’s chances of pushing deeper into the Goulburn Valley league finals this year has been bolstered by the signing of former VFL player and Berwick best and fairest winner and premiership captain Bryce Rutherford.

Rutherford is relocating to the GV region next week and has signed with Mooroopna, which was the only team to beat eventual premiers Echuca last year.

The talented midfielder also played for Noble Park in the Eastern Football League before returning to Berwick at the start of the 2021 season.

Mooroopna recruit Bryce Rutherford. Picture: Supplied

Rutherford played at Casey Demons when Mooroopna assistant coach Darren Ogier was at the VFL club.

“That genuine friendship was there for all to see when Bryce caught up with us (recently),”

Mooroopna football director Mick Betson said.

“We believe Bryce, other than being a very good player for us, will be great for our young group as well.

“That is where we need continued improvement.”

Former junior and 2014 AFL draftee Nathan Drummond will also play with Mooroopna this year when not selected for Footscray’s VFL team.

Originally published as Sale, Port Fairy, Sandhurst and Mooroopna: Recruiting coups in lead-up to 2023 season