Done deal: the first 40 signings of the VFL off-season
It’s been a busy start to recruiting for VFL clubs as they set out to bolster their squads for the 2025 season. Here are 40 confirmed signings – and a few more in the works.
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Player signings are gathering pace across the VFL for the 2025.
Here are the first 40 recruits, in alphabetical order.
Yuyu Ashwin, Northern Bullants
With speed his strong suit, the former Collingwood Next Generation Academy and Oakleigh Charger is out to become a senior regular with the Ants after flitting in and out of the Magpies’ VFL team for two seasons.
Charlie Bolmat, Northern Bullants
Bolmat, a defender, was a regular with the Calder Cannons in 2023 and made Essendon’s list this year, but did not manage a VFL game; he’s looking for a belated debut with the Bullants. Locally, he was part of Leigh Tudor’s grand final team at Pascoe Vale.
Tom Blamires, Frankston
Blamires showed persistence and pluck to make the grade in the VFL. He did not get on Sandringham’s list in 2022, but stuck around as a train-on, made the cut 12 months later and shared the best first-year player award in 2023. This year he improved further to average 15.8 disposals from 17 matches. Now he’s heading to the Dolphins with fellow Zebra Darby Hipwell.
Josh Cresswell, Southport
The 18-year-old, the son of former top Sydney Swan Daryn Cresswell, figured in a senior flag this year with the South Cairns Cutters and also had a stint with the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League. Cresswell was also part of the GWS Academy program when he lived in regional NSW.
Kye Declase, Box Hill Hawks
One of the VFL’s best wingmen will pick up his career at Box Hill Hawks. Declase played for the VFL representative team against the SANFL in April but abruptly left Werribee after Round 10, seeing out the season with Hurstbridge in the Northern league.
Kade De La Rue, Frankston
The Dandenong Stingrays graduate has joined the Dolphins after one season and five matches at North Melbourne VFL.
Corey Ellison, Frankston
The Dolphins were after a key forward and in Ellison they landed one of the league’s best. The 24-year-old was looking to play closer to home; he lives in the south-east and had tired of the travel to Williamstown. He booted 38.24 for Willy this year and was runner-up in the best and fairest. Ellison had been part of Casey’s premiership team in 2022.
Ryan Eyers, Werribee
Eyers is another Ovens and Murray recruit for the Bees. The versatile tall won the best and fairest this year with Corowa-Rutherglen, being named in the best in 13 of his 16 matches. The former Murray Bushranger also played two games for Geelong VFL, where he’s been on the list for two years.
Patrick Farrant, Port Melbourne
The 189cm forward arrives at the Borough after having six VFL games with Collingwood in 2024. He also played 11 matches for Fitzroy Stars in the Northern league, booting 59 goals, including two bags of eight in finals. Farrant, 25, had kicked the ton in WA local football in 2023, racking up 107 goals for Bridgetown in the Lower South West league.
Harry Flynn, Northern Bullants
Flynn joined the VFL Magpies in 2023 as a 19-year-old player attached to the Eastern Ranges, where he had suffered an ACL. This year he played four games with the Maggies but was prominent for his local club, North Ringwood. The Ants like his attitude and his potential to play a few roles next season.
Archie Gardiner, Werribee
Gardiner joins with the Bees with glowing notices from his North Albury coach, ex-Magpie Tim Broomhead, who told CODE Sports his charge was the best wingman in the Ovens and Murray league. From 21 matches, Gardiner snaffled 10 mentions in the best players and was selected in the representative team. “He’s certainly got some talent and a bright future,’’ Broomhead said. “He’s made of the right stuff, he’s got a great attitude and he deserves a crack at it down there. He’s lightning, he’s rapid, really quick, and his pressure is the best that I’ve played with out of anyone.’’
Josh Gore, Southport
Gore is back at a club for whom he played Colts in 2017-18. The 23-year-old former Surfers Paradise Junior has spent the past four seasons with West Adelaide in the SANFL.
Riley Greene, North Bullants
Next season brings fresh playing fields for Greene, who has been on Brisbane Lions’ VFL list for three years and will stiffen the Ants’ backline.
Hugo Hall-Kahan, Williamstown
Half-forward Hall-Kahan has become a Towner after one season as a Zebra. He had spent 18 months with the Sydney Swans after being taken in the 2022 mid-season rookie draft.
Darby Hipwell, Frankston
The midfielder has linked with the Dolphins after a consistent season for Sandringham in which he averaged 18.9 possessions, including a 33-disposal outing against Richmond in Round 20. Hipwell won the Zebras’ best and fairest in 2023.
Dyson Heppell, Port Melbourne
It’s a been a while since a player of Heppell’s heft has linked with a VFL club. The former Essendon captain and best and fairest signed a two-year deal with the Borough as a playing assistant coach, bringing the experience of 253 AFL games to North Port Oval. Heppell will also serve as the club’s “community ambassador’’.
Darcy Hogg, Northern Bullants
The midfielder is the son of 1995 Carlton premiership defender Matthew Hogg and played a handful of VFL games for the Blues this year. At local level he was third in Macleod’s best and fairest.
Zac Hudson, Northern Bullants
From Macleod in the Northern league, Hudson was a leading performer in the Northern league, finishing second in his club’s best and fairest, and gives the Ants’ ruck stocks a top-up.
Bailey Lambert, Frankston
The versatile Lambert returns to Kars St after spending last season with Carlton’s VFL team. He’s a good player – it wasn’t long ago that a few AFL clubs were running an eye over the son of former AFL star Craig Lambert.
Sam Lowson, Southport
A superb signing for the Sharks in the seasoned and classy Lowson, who is making the move to the Gold Coast after two years with North Melbourne VFL. He already knows a few of his teammates, having played with Hugh Dixon, Brayden Crossley, Ben Jepson, Boyd Woodcock and Jacob Dawson in the VFL representative team against the SANFL in April. Lowson made his reputation with Coburg and was tipped to be No. 1 selection in the 2019 mid-season draft until injuries intervened.
Will Madden, Northern Bullants
Madden, a key defender, has transferred from Essendon VFL. He had four games for the Bombers in 2023 but none this year. He did, however, perform well for Greenvale in the Essendon District league.
Christian Mardini, Northern Bullants
The 197cm Mardini captained the Northern Knights in the Coates Talent League in 2023 and was also a Vic Metro representative. He finished the 2024 season by kicking seven goals in the grand final for the South Morang Under 19s.
Sam Mason, Coburg
Mason returns to the City Oval after an impressive debut season in 2023, when he showed adaptability and dash and came in the top 10 in the best and fairest. He went back to Old Trinity in amateurs this year but has chosen to pick up on a VFL career that began so promisingly.
Tom McKenzie, Richmond
Ellie McKenzie is a leading Richmond AFLW player and her brother Tom has joined her at Punt Rd after 46 games with Coburg.
Phill Moimoi, Richmond
A relative of former Parramatta Eels rugby league cult figure Fuifui Moimoi, the forward has returned to Melbourne and signed with the Tigers after one season with Sydney’s VFL team. He had some bright moments with the Swans, kicking 14 goals from 11 matches.
Ajang Kuol mun, Port Melbourne
The young ruckman has had a rapid rise in football since joining local club Anakie in 2023, playing five VFL games for Geelong this year and attending the draft state combine, where he recorded 90cm for the running vertical jump. He’s eyeing more opportunities at the stand-alone Borough.
Amin Naim, Northern Bullants
Highly regarded by officials at the Calder Cannons in 2023, Naim had a strong year for Strathmore, booting 47 goals from 21 games. He also played one match for Essendon VFL.
Riley Polkinghorne, Port Melbourne
The 23-year-old is the son of Travis Polkinghorne, who with his brothers Grant and John won VFL best and fairests with North Ballarat in the 1990s. Riley followed his father onto the club honour board by taking the top award in 2021 and again last year, when he averaged 29 possessions a game.
Max Rider, Port Melbourne
Rider, 19, is a forward out of the Sydney Swans Academy who had VFL experience with the Swannies in 2023, when he was also in the Allies side at the national Under 18 championships. This year he played in the Swans’ Coates Talent League team, kicking four goals against Sandringham Dragons.
Michael Rudd, Port Melbourne
The nephew of ex-Port Melbourne grand final player Josh Rudd is a 193cm forward and a former captain of Geelong Falcons in the Coates Talent League. The left-footer played one VFL game for Carlton in 2024 and was impressive at local level with St Mary’s in the Geelong league, booting 21 goals from 18 outings.
Kaden Schreiber, Northern Bullants
The defender crosses from Collingwood, which he joined in 2021. He came back from a knee injury to play eight games this year and was also part of Balwyn’s Eastern league premiership.
Lochie Simpson, Northern Bullants
At 208cm, Simpson will be easy to locate on the field. He’s joined the Bullants as a “project’’ player from Wodonga Raiders, where he made his start in senior football after previously playing basketball for the Albury Wodonga Bandits in the NBL1.
Deakyn Smith, Casey Demons
Smith won Casey’s 2023 best and fairest as a Melbourne-listed player and he’s returned to Casey Fields after a season with North Melbourne’s VFL program.
Josh Sparkman, Port Melbourne
Sparkman, a 188cm defender, has followed new Port senior coach Brendan McCartney from North Ballarat. The 20-year-old had a taste of the VFL this year, playing two matches late in the season for Footscray Bulldogs. Sparkman was also selected in the Ballarat league’s Under 23 representative team.
Jonathan Tomasiello, Coburg
Tomasiello, a midfielder, was one of quite a few Magpies to depart the VFL nest at the end of 2024. Having played 10 games across the past two seasons with Collingwood, the Northern Knights graduate is eyeing more chances with the Burgers.
Ryan Valentine, Coburg
The Lions have added firepower to their forward line with the addition of the 197cm Valentine, who played in Casey’s 2022 VFL premiership. This year he had a telling hand in Old Scotch’s VAFA success, kicking four goals and jagging the medal as best-afield in the grand final. His season contribution to Scotch was 38 goals from 16 games.
Tex Wanganeen, Port Melbourne
The 21-year-old son of Brownlow Medal champion Gavin Wanganeen extended the Bombers connection (James Hird, Dyson Heppell, Brendan McCartney) to the Borough. The forward played five AFL matches for Essendon and 35 in its VFL team. Port said Wanganeen “enjoys the defensive side of the game and brings the X factor’’.
Malachi White, Port Melbourne
The 19-year-old midfielder was the Borough’s first signing from North Ballarat. He previously spent two seasons with Geelong Falcons in the Coates Talent League.
Declan Willmore, Coburg
Willmore, a 190cm midfielder/flanker, was on Essendon’s VFL list in 2024 but spent the season with Doutta Stars in the Essendon District league. Two years ago he won the Calder Cannons best and fairest, suggesting the Burgers have signed a player capable of helping them rise a few rungs on the ladder.
IN THE WORKS
Ollie Lowe, North Melbourne VFL
Lowe is set to become a Kangaroo after playing 42 games with Sandringham, where he had his admirers. He kicked 15.10 and averaged 13.8 disposals for the Zebras this year.
Sam Grant, Port Melbourne
The talented tall has been linked with the Borough after telling Coburg he would be playing elsewhere next year. Grant was part of Old Scotch’s 2024 VAFA Premier flag.
Ethan Stanley, Box Hill Hawks
The dashing Stanley is expected to return to the City Oval after being delisted by Fremantle, which recruited him in the 2023 mid-season rookie draft. He played two AFL games as the sub and 22 matches for Peel Thunder in the WAFL.
Originally published as Done deal: the first 40 signings of the VFL off-season
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