Dane Swan, Travis Cloke, Brendan Fevola among biggest names playing local football in 2018

THE high-profile moves weren’t limited to the AFL this off-season. At local level, everyone from Brownlow Medal winners, goal kicking machines, super coaches and even code-hoppers were in demand. See who is playing where in 2018.

THE high-profile deals weren’t limited to the AFL this off-season, with the bombshells coming thick and fast at local level too.

Everyone from Brownlow Medal winners, goal kicking machines, super coaches and even code-hoppers were in demand.

Catch up on where you can watch the biggest names in local football in 2018.

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DANE SWAN — Westmeadows

It doesn’t matter if he is on the MCG in front of 90,000 fans or playing in a park in the suburbs of Melbourne, Collingwood champion Dane Swan will draw a crowd.

The 2011 Brownlow Medal winner hasn’t been sighted on a football field since breaking his foot in the opening game of the 2016 season, but all that is about to change.

Footy fans will be able to see Swan running around for his junior club Westmeadows.

Dane Swan makes his return to football this year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“It doesn’t mean I’ll play every week, as I’ll be travelling. I’ll give something back to them … It’ll be a bit of fun,” Swan said after announcing his signing.

“My cousin is going back there, my uncle is on the board and my other cousin plays there.

“I might play one or I might play 10 games, but hopefully it gives them a boost.”

Swan, 34, played 258 games for the Magpies, including in the club’s 2010 premiership.

Westmeadows play in division 2 of the Essendon District Football League and finished seventh on the ladder last year.

TRAVIS AND CAMERON CLOKE — Hurstbridge

If you can find a better forward line in local football than this Cloke-double, we will be shocked.

In a huge boost for Northern Football League side Hurstbridge, the club has signed both Travis and Cameron Cloke for the 2018 season.

Cameron has been locked in to play with the club for a number of months while Travis signed a “love of the game” contract in February.

For those who don’t know, a love of the game contract means he will be playing for FREE! How’s that for value?

Travis kicked 452 goals across his AFL career and was routinely one of the best contested marks in the competition.

This is what happened the last time Jason and Cameron Cloke played together.

When it comes to local footy, few forwards have been more dominant than Cameron.

The former Magpie and Blue booted a whopping 127 goals for EDFL side Jacana last season. That was 43 goals ahead of his nearest rival and enough to hand Jacana a premiership.

The biggest question for opposition coaches now centres on where they send their No. 1 defender and how long they wait before sending an extra one, two or five players to the backline.

CLOKE SWAP — Jacana

With Cameron Cloke leaving Jacana, that left a massive hole in the club’s forward line.

But who better to fill a Cloke shaped hole than another Cloke?

That is exactly what Jacana has done, replacing Cameron with his older brother Jason.

While it will be hard to top Cameron’s stunning 2017 season, Jason might just be the man for the job.

He is coming off a whopping 118 goals last year, a performance which helped lift WRFL club Parkside to a premiership.

BRENDAN FEVOLA — Melton South

Fev’s back!

Brendan Fevola will again be seen kicking bags of goals in 2018, with the two-time Coleman Medal winner playing another season with Melton South.

As a playing-coach in 2017, Fevola helped the Panthers rise from competition easy beats to narrowly missing out on finals.

He finished the season with 56 majors, including six bags of five or more goals.

With finals on the agenda for next year, Fevola has secured some ex-AFL help. The Panthers have also signed former Brisbane Lion Mitch Golby.

Golby played 56 games across five years for Brisbane.

BRENT HARVEY — North Heidelberg

Brent Harvey played 21 seasons in the AFL for one premiership.

His record is slightly better when it comes to local football.

In his first season out of the AFL, Harvey lifted Northern Football League club North Heidelberg to a division 2 premiership.

The AFL games record holder booted 61 goals and was named in his side’s best players in all but three games. He will be back in action for the club this year, forming a lethal combination with his brother Shane.

Also a former AFL player, Shane booted a whopping 115 goals last year.

The Harveys are expected to be just as dominant in 2018.

SAM GROTH — North Heidelberg

Former tennis ace Sam Groth was meant to be a surprise addition to our list this year. Although he’s not a footballer, let’s face it — he is one heck of an athlete.

Groth was all set to play at North Heidelberg alongside Boomer however, an innocuous training accident has ruled him out for the year.

“It was a simple handball drill, just putting a bit of body on, nothing serious and I just got hit under the elbow — nothing serious — and the contract lifted the shoulder completely out,” Groth said.

“It was light contact and shoulder has gone back and been ripped through the top.

“I couldn’t believe it. That’s it, the season is done.”

Groth had been showing some exciting signs for North Heidelberg, kicking two goals in a trial match against VFL side the Northern Blues.

Hopefully he is back in action next year.

Sam Groth was meant to play local football for North Heidelberg this year.

BRENT STANTON — Banyule

The former Bomber is going home.

Brent Stanton was a man in demand after retiring from Essendon but it was the chance to play with his junior club which won out.

Stanton has signed with division two NFL side Banyule, a club he won seven best and fairests at while rising up the ranks.

The 31-year-old played 255 games for the Bombers and was also an Australian representative during his career.

Stanton will split his time between Banyule and his development coaching role at Carlton.

Rodney Eade has taken over at EFL club Balwyn.

RODNEY EADE — Balwyn

He won’t be playing but Rodney Eade is heading back to the suburbs. After coaching Gold Coast last year, Eade will take over at Eastern Football League club Balwyn.

It’s easy to get the feeling Balwyn likes to have a high-profile face at the helm. Eade replaces former Bulldog Marty Pask in the top job.

However, not everyone was excited to see Rocket appointed.

On the back of the signing, former Gold Coast players Henry Schade and Daniel Gorringe walked out on the club. Both Schade and Gorringe were delisted under Eade’s watch as head coach of the Suns.