South Barwon land Lachie Middleton and Jack Shannon in late switches to GFL club

Life under Mark Neeld has started well for South Barwon, with the finals contenders signing two best-and-fairest winners. Find out who.

GDFL semi finals Senior footy: Bannockburn v Bell post Hill Bell post Hill 8 Jack Yates and Bannockburn 22 Lachlan Middleton Picture: Mark Wilson

NEW South Barwon coach Mark Neeld has not wasted any time in building a side set to contend in finals in his first season, with a small list overhaul in the pre-season.

The Swans lost experienced duo Luke Davis and James Syddall to Barwon Heads, but have signed Bannockburn premiership star Lachie Middleton and VFL hopeful Jack Shannon to their list.

Neeld said the existing player group was the club’s best recruiting asset.

“The best recruiters are the current playing group, Lachie has a number of friends that play at South Barwon,” he said.

“When he indicated to them he was keen to have a go at GFL football he just came down with his mates to training.

Lachlan Middleton has left Bannockburn. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Similarly with Jack, he’s training with the Cats’ VFL side and there’s a couple of players down there in the South Barwon side that he became friendly with over summer.”

“Lachie was late (to commit to South Barwon), he had been speaking about it with his mates for a little while but has only come to training in the last three weeks while Jack indicated to us pre-Christmas that he would be keen for us to be his feeder club.”

Middleton played 21 games for Bannockburn in 2022 and was named in the best players nine times, including on grand final day when the Tigers defeated Inverleigh.

Shannon has joined the Swans from Koondrook Barham in the Central Murray Football League, winning the 2022 club best and fairest before trying to seal a spot on a VFL list.

GDFL semi finalsSenior footy: Bannockburn v Bell post HillBell post Hill 15 Nick Costello and Bannockburn 22 Lachlan Middleton Picture: Mark Wilson

Neeld said he was excited to see the two best-and-fairest winners land at the club.

“We’re thrilled as a football club to have both Lachie and Jack join us for next season,” he said.

“Lachie will be well-known to community football followers in the Geelong region, he played in the Bannockburn premiership last season and was their best and fairest winner, so it was fantastic to see him come across.

“Jack is down from Koondrook Barham, trying his hand at VFL level.

“We hope that Jack plays a number of games for the Geelong VFL side and we believe that as a club we can help him in whatever his football journey looks like.”

Originally published as South Barwon land Lachie Middleton and Jack Shannon in late switches to GFL club