Newtown & Chillwell signs delisted Cat Oscar Murdoch and former Yarrawonga star
A Geelong player who spent two years on the Cats’ list has joined Newtown & Chillwell under new coach Steve Johnson. Plus, a connection has helped them land another player.
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Newtown & Chillwell has unveiled its first big signing under new coach Steve Johnson with delisted Geelong defender Oscar Murdoch returning to his junior club.
Murdoch, 20, spent two years on Geelong’s list without playing a senior game and was cut by the Cats last month.
The Eagles are unsure whether Murdoch will be playing VFL football next year at the Cats, where he averaged 10 touches and four intercepts per game this season, but they are rapt to have him on board as they set their sights on a finals return in 2025 under Geelong great Johnson.
Newtown & Chillwell has also picked up outside runner Logan Morey, who played in a premiership under Johnson at Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray league.
Eagles acting football manager Daniel Salter said it was a fairly straightforward process in signing Murdoch.
“We’re really excited to have him back in the black and red, he is a Newtown boy so we always thought he would come back to Newtown.
“He is a great player with a lot of potential, played a game for us a few years back and looked really good under Damian McMahon.
“We haven’t rushed Oscar, he has been training up at the footy club with many of his mates since the (AFL) season finished, so we spoke to him a couple of times and didn’t rush the process and caught up with him over the weekend.”
Salter said the signing of 29-year-old Morey was hopefully the first of several recruits to join Newtown & Chillwell over the off-season.
“(Morey) has played football in the backline and he has played on the wing this year. He is solidly built with plenty of senior experience which will help our junior kids coming through to develop,” Salter said.
“(Johnson and the club) are speaking to plenty of players that will add experience and depth to the list for 2025.”
The Eagles has a stockpile of young talent to look forward to after the club won their third consecutive under-18s premiership last month.
Several Geelong Falcons players who were part of their premiership last year – including sons of guns Noah Caracella and Alfie Wojcinski, and Falcons ball-winners Noah Tullio and Edan Ibbetson – have also signed with the club.
Caracella, eligible as an Essendon father-son through his father Blake, played for Essendon’s VFL side this year, while Wojcinski is the son of three-time flag Cat David.
Some of those youngsters may have VFL commitments next year but expect them to feature for the Eagles at some stage in 2025.
“We are really excited with what lies ahead after the under-18s won their third premiership in a row and we have got a lot of exciting kids coming through,” Salter said.
The Eagles have lost Werribee premiership player Flynn Young and Port Melbourne listed player Zach Walter to Barwon Heads, while Joe McDonald has returned to Ocean Grove after a year in the GFNL.
Newtown & Chillwell club legend Matt McMahon has retired.
Originally published as Newtown & Chillwell signs delisted Cat Oscar Murdoch and former Yarrawonga star
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