From local to state: The 75 suburban and country players signed by VFL clubs
From bag-filling forwards to dashing defenders and ruckmen and nifty midfielders, dozens of local hopefuls have made the jump to the VFL this year. Here’s a list of 75 players to watch.
Last year it was Riley Bice and Sam Davidson who made the jump from local football to the VFL and then the AFL.
Who are the players to watch in 2025 as they make the jump from country and suburban ranks to the state league.
Here are 75 players added to VFL lists for the season starting this weekend.
DENG ANDREW, BERWICK TO NORTHERN BULLANTS:
The brother of star Gold Sun Mac, Andrew earned a VFL contract after a diligent pre-season at Cramer St. The 189cm utility played 13 senior games for Berwick last year in the top division of the Eastern league.
JACK ANDREW, HEIDELBERG TO COBURG:
The bouncy 183cm forward with the big hands was in the first of a bunch of trial players to be signed by Coburg. He kicked 29 goals in 13 games last year for Heidelberg, where he was an Under 19 best and fairest. The Lions expect him to see senior action this season.
RILEY BALDI, MOE TO CASEY DEMONS:
Baldi is back at Casey Demons – and in a leadership role – after last year winning the Gippsland league medal, his club best and fairest and gaining selection in the team of the year for the second successive season. In his list of the best 50 country footballers in 2024, shrewd Weekly Times writer David Johnston slotted the onballer at No. 5, noting he had “began strongly and maintained a high output right to the end’’. Leongatha coach Trent McMicking thought him in the No. 1 player in Gippsland. Baldi was a prominent Gippsland Power player in 2019, representing Vic Country at the Under 18 championships and attending the AFL state combine.
CODY BRAMBLE, SUNBURY TO FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS:
The pacy Bramble is the brother of AFL Western Bulldog Lachie, had a run with Calder Cannons in 2021 and was on Box Hill Hawks’ list in 2023. He’s spent the past three seasons as a prominent player with Sunbury Lions.
JORDAN BUSUTTIL, WILLIAMSTOWN CYMS TO ESSENDON:
The onballer is coming off successive best and fairests for Williamstown CYMS in the VAFA, where last year he won 13 mentions in the best. In one game late in the season he had 36 disposals, 24 contested possessions and 20 clearances, to go with 12 inside 50s.
NOAH BRADSHAW, WODONGA TO GWS:
Bradshaw was one of the six players the Giants unveiled to kick off their Albury hub, which is intended to “provide pathways for talented players in the region to train, develop, and potentially play for the Giants’ VFL side’’. Bradshaw is the son of former Lion and Swan Daniel Bradshaw, and was judged Wodonga Bulldogs’ most consistent player in 2024.
HUGH BYRNE, ECHUCA TO NORTH MELBOURNE:
195cm and versatile, Byrne kicked 31 goals from 20 for last year’s Goulburn Valley premiership team. He had been a regular for the Bendigo Pioneers in 2023. “He’s a competitive centre half-forward with really good hands,’’ Kangas coach Tommy Lynch told CODE Sports. “He’s young. He’s going to develop nicely in the system.’’
FRASER CAMERON, DE LA SALLE TO GOLD COAST SUNS:
The former North Melbourne VFL-lister was part of the De La team that went through to the VAFA Premier B grand final in 2024, kicking 18 goals from 17 games.
JONAH “JOEY’’ CAMPIGLI, OLD BRIGHTON TO SANDRINGHAM:
The Zebras were thrilled to sign the Old Brighton youngster, who was the VAFA’s 2024 Rising Star after a season in which he kicked 33 goals from nine matches for the Under 19s, then 16 from 12 for the seniors.
MAX CLOHESY, SHEPPARTON SWANS TO RICHMOND:
Clohesy, a powerful half-back and midfielder with a penetrating left-foot kick, returns to Punt Rd after a year away from the VFL. He was judged the Shepparton Swans’ best Under 21 player last year and represented the Goulburn Valley league against the Ovens and Murray.
SHANE CLOUGH, GISBORNE TO ESSENDON:
Clough knows his way around Bomberland, having been in the club’s James Hird Academy program. The 19-year-old midfielder suffered an ACL injury in 2023 when on the Calder Cannons’ list and returned to football last season with Gisborne in the Bendigo league. “He’s fit, tough, skilful, a good decision maker, and it’s great to see another EFC NGA product signed with our VFL,’’ Dons recruiting officer Darren Farrugia said.
NICCO CONLAN, ST BERNARD’S TO WILLIAMSTOWN:
From the Griffith Swans in the Riverina league, Conlan moved to Melbourne last year and played some impressive football for the St Bernard’s senior team in the VAFA.
BEN COGHILL, YARRAWONGA TO GWS:
Coghill, 21 and a key forward, was Yarrawonga’s “Rising Star’’ last year after playing all season in the senior side. He had crossed from Rennie in the Picola and District Football Netball League.
KAI DANIELS, GOLDEN SQUARE TO RICHMOND:
The brother of NBA Atlanta Hawk Dyson Daniels, Kai returned to football last year in the Bendigo league and did well as a forward and ruckman. He won a contract after joining in Tiger training in January. “He’s pretty new to the game, just with his positioning and fundamentals in terms of his kick,’’ Richmond VFL operations manager and recruiter Oliver Grant said. “But his athletic upside is enormous. He’s 194, 195cm, big and strong and competitive. He’s quick and he can jump and he’s got some real power.
PADDY DE GRANDI, ST JOSEPH’S TO GEELONG:
The 193cm forward has been a prominent goalkicker in the Geelong league, booting 61 goals last year and 45 in 2023. The locals expect him to come through this year.
ANTHONY DEPASQUALE, KYABRAM TO WERRIBEE:
Depasquale, 21, is reaching for another level after a bumper 73-goal season for Kyabram in the strong Goulburn Valley league. He was part of the Bendigo Pioneers program in 2021, playing eight matches in the Coates Talent League.
TOM FARRER, OLD SCOTCH TO BOX HILL HAWKS:
The inside midfielder captained the Scotch College APS team last year and will play for Old Scotch when he’s not in the VFL.
TOM FERGUSON, ST KEVIN’S TO RICHMOND:
Ferguson is back in Melbourne after studying in Queensland and playing for Bond University in 2023-24. A Hawthorn Citizens junior, he had three outings for Oakleigh Chargers in 2022 and that year captained the St Kevin’s College APS team. Nippy and evasive, the Tigers expect him to push up for a VFL debut this season.
JACK FERRARO, ST BEDES-MENTONE TIGERS TO CASEY DEMONS:
A midfielder and forward, Ferraro slotted 27 goals in VAFA Premier B last year and also appeared in the Under 19 “Showcase’’ match.
SAM FLOCKART, OLD BRIGHTON TO RICHMOND:
As promising Port Melbourne big man Felix Flockart left the VFL, his brother Sam joined it, snapped up by the Tigers after a sparkling 2024 season with Old Brighton in the VAFA. He played as an undersized ruckman with the Tonners, showing endurance and athleticism for a grand final team.
ARCHER GARDINER, NORTH ALBURY TO WERRIBEE:
Gardiner joined 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 last year, Gardiner earned 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.’’
JENSON GARNHAM, LEONGATHA TO CASEY DEMONS:
Garnham has been a good goalkicker for Leongatha in the past two seasons, kicking 53 goals and being named at full-forward in the Gippsland league team of the year in 2024 and slotting 52 goals in the premiership year of 2023. He had played with Gippsland Power in 2022. Leongatha coach Trent McMicking said Garnham was an exciting prospect. “I’m not sure where the limit is for him. I don’t know how good he can be,’’ he said. “He attacks the footy hard, he’s a really good mark and he’s a neat kick for goal. He has a basketball background and he didn’t really play much footy until he was 16, 17. He’s super-raw but he’s got plenty of ability.’’
JARROD GATT, PINES TO CASEY DEMONS:
Gatt has developed his football under renowned local coach Paddy Swayn at leading Mornington Peninsula club Pines in the past three seasons. He was 60kg when he started but is now 75kg and has grown to 185cm. “He’s a nice kick and runs really hard. He has good vision and has really worked on his one-on-one defending. He’s a good story for us,’’ Swayn told CODE Sports.
CLAYTON GAY, DROMANA TO FRANKSTON:
The former Dandenong Stingray was one of the best players on the Mornington Peninsula in 2024, kicking 48 goals for Dromana and having his name passed on to Dolphins coach Jackson Kornberg. The left-footer is more than capable of making a position his own in an rising Frankston team.
BRODY GLENN, GREENSBOROUGH TO NORTHERN BULLANTS:
Glenn gets his chance at VFL level after splashing out with 46 goals from 21 matches for Greensborough in the Northern league last year as a second-season senior player.
ZAC GREEVES, CASTLEMAINE TO SANDRINGHAM:
From Rowville’s under-age teams, Greeves went through the Eastern Ranges and was on Collingwood’s VFL list in 2023, playing one game for the Pies. Last year he played at Castlemaine under former AFL defender Michael Hartley.
LIAM GUNSON, ST KEVIN’S TO NORTH MELBOURNE:
Gunson was a train-on with the Kangaroos for two years before finally landing a contract. Described by St Kevin’s coach Anthony Lynch as a “classic wingman’’, he won the VAFA club’s coaches’ award last year. “He’s a great young man and an ultimate professional, and when he gets selected to play VFL footy he’ll be ready to perform at that level,’’ Lynch said. “He’s a ripper.’’
ZANE GREENHAM, ST KEVIN’S TO RICHMOND:
Greenham is the son of former Richmond reserves player Paul and pushed up from the Under 19 team to play five games for the St Kevin’s seniors last year as a small, pressure forward. In previous years he suffered injuries but a clear run at it in 2024 and a pre-season with the Tigers have produced significant improvement in him.
JACKSON GRUNDY, NORTH WARRNAMBOOL TO WERRIBEE:
The 23-year-old midfielder set out for the state league after an excellent 2024 season for North Warrnambool in the Hampden league: he was in the team of the year and runner-up in the best and fairest for a side that made the grand final.
DOM GUGLIOTTI, MOOROOPNA TO WERRIBEE:
Former Bees coach Johnny Lamont sent Gugliotti to Werribee after watching him perform consistently and dependably in the Goulburn Valley league. “He’s task-orientated, has a crack and likely to fill a role as a small defender in our side,’’ Werribee coach Jimmy Allan said.
ANGUS HANRAHAN, MOOROOPNA TO SYDNEY SWANS:
The former Port Melbourne-lister will relocate to Sydney to try his luck as a state league Swan. Last year he played under former Werribee VFL coach John Lamont, having 20 games and kicking 17 goals for Mooroopna in the Goulburn Valley league.
REUBEN HANSON, KARINGAL TO RICHMOND:
The tall utility caught some attention last year when he kicked six goals from centre half-forward for Karingal in the Mornington Peninsula league. He captained the Karingal Under 19s the previous year. He’s green, but the Tigers talk about his “upside’’.
LIAM HUNT, NORTH HEIDELBERG TO FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS:
A notable recruit for the Bulldogs, with Hunt returning to the VFL at age 26. The onballer won a best and fairest and VFL team-of-the-year honours at Coburg before joining Williamstown in 2019. He left the Towners after the 2022 season and has since been a leading player with North Heidelberg. Hunt’s cousin Ethan plays with Footscray and the Hunts are also cousins with Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli.
JOSH HUTCHINGS, CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS TO SANDRINGHAM:
Hutchings won Caulfield Grammarians’ Rising Star award in the VAFA last year. “His work ethic is exceptional, for a tall forward he’s one of the best and more accurate kicks for goal that I’ve seen, and he’s got good hands,’’ former Caulfield Grammarians coach Guy “Bluey’’ McKenna said of Hutchings.
PATRICK IRELAND, BULN BULN TO CASEY DEMONS:
Graduating from Gippsland Power, Ireland booted 111 goals from 20 matches last year for Buln Buln in the Ellinbank and District league, including six in the grand final. There were also bags of 14, 13 and 12. “He’s got all the attributes you like in a forward,’’ outgoing Buln Buln coach Bobby McAllum said. “He’s very mobile and he takes a really good mark but what sets him apart from a lot of forwards is that he’s a really good set-shot.’’
NICK IRVINE, YARRAWONGA TO GWS:
defender, Irvine spent the past two seasons with Yarrwonga and was among the Pigeons’ best players in their 2023 premiership. His footballing CV also includes a stint with the Murray Bushrangers in 2019.
BEN KELLETT, SOUTH BARWON TO WERRIBEE:
From North Warrnambool, ruckman Kellett arrived at Werribee via South Barwon, where he had two strong seasons under the coaching of Mark Neeld, getting named in the best in half of his 38 games. He also played some matches for the GWV Rebels in the Coates Talent League in 2021.
PATRICK KELLY, SOUTH BARWON TO GEELONG:
The VFL is another step-up in standard for the teak-tough Kelly, who won Nullawil’s best and fairest as a 19-year-old in 2023 and played at South Barwon in the Geelong league last year, snaring 11 mentions on best-player lists. Shrewd South Barwon official Brendan Curry thinks there’s a bit of Kane Lambert about Kelly.
SEAN LAI, CHELTENHAM TO RICHMOND:
Left-footer Lai won a Tigers VFL contract not long after his twin brother Josh bolted on to Port Adelaide’s AFL list. Both figured in Chelt’s senior premiership last year and finished behind dual winners Jack Lonie and Jacob Edwards in the club best and fairest.
ARCHI LAZZARO, NEWTOWN & CHILWELL TO PORT MELBOURNE:
Lazzaro is the brother of top Borough recruit Charlie and is seen as a developing young player. He established himself in the Newtown & Chilwell senior team last year.
PERRY LEWIS-SMITH, YARRAWONGA TO GWS:
Orange and charcoal are the newest colours for the hard-running Lewis-Smith, who previously played for Casey, Frankston, Port Melbourne and the Northern Bullants. Last year he lined up with Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray league, finishing runner-up in the best and fairest.
DREW LLOYD, BALRANALD TO PORT MELBOURNE:
The forward was recommended to Borough coach Brendan McCartney after bagging 38 goals last year for Balranald in the Central Murray league. “I think our supporters will really enjoy watching Drew play,’’ McCartney said. “He’s a footballer. He plays footy like it’s the last game he’s ever going to play in his life, just gives it everything. He’s really clever at ground level and deceptive above his head.’’
DOYLE MADIGAN, SOUTH BARWON TO GEELONG:
The left-footer won the Mathieson Medal as best and fairest in the Geelong league last year, as well as his club vote count. He’s among a package of impressive local recruits for the Cats.
SAM MASON, OLD TRINITY TO 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 the amateurs last year but has chosen to pick up on a VFL career that began so promisingly.
RILEY MASON, SEYMOUR TO COLLINGWOOD:
The 21-year-old, 197cm forward joined Collingwood after an outstanding season in the strong Goulburn Valley league. Mason booted 72 goals from 18 matches, including bags of 10 against Tatura, eight against Benalla and seven against Mooroopna. He was listed in the best players 11 times – enough to finish third in the best and fairest – and represented the league against the Ovens and Murray. A Broadford junior, Mason played for the Calder Cannons and was on Coburg’s VFL list in 2022 but never played a game for the Burgers.
MYLES MCCLUGGAGE, SOUTH WARRNAMBOOL TO WERRIBEE:
The younger brother of Brisbane Lions premiership star Hugh is having a dash at the VFL after a team-of-the-year season with South Warrnambool in the Hampden league. McCluggage had a stint with the GWV Rebels in 2021-22.
JACE MCQUADE, WANGARATTA ROVERS TO GWS:
McQuade was a defensive pillar last year for the Wangaratta Rovers in a premiership season. He gets a chance with the Giants after previously doing a pre-season with Carlton VFL.
RILEY MIHAILOVIC, BEAUMARIS TO FRANKSTON:
A midfielder and forward, Mihailovic played only nine matches for Beauie last year but it was enough to win the best and fairest. And his dedicated pre-season was enough for him to be added to Frankston’s list amid spirited competition for places.
BAILEY MEDWELL, SEBASTOPOL TO COLLINGWOOD:
A more mature recruit for the ‘Scray in Ballarat league top-liner Medwell, from Sebastopol. He had 41 disposals, 21 contested possessions and 13 clearances in a match last season.
TED MIDDLETON, LORNE TO FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS:
The young midfielder from Lorne was the 21st player signed by the Bulldogs, recommended by his coach and former Blue Ed Curnow. Middleton was an excellent contributor to Lorne’s premiership team last year, kicking 19 goals from 14 matches.
O’NEILL MONCRIEFF, PARKSIDE TO RICHMOND:
In-and-under midfielder Moncrieff – who played all of his under-age football in Queensland – had the Tigers tracking him last year as he tallied up big numbers in local football.
TOM MUNDY, DEER PARK TO WILLIAMSTOWN:
A return to the Towners for Tasmanian Mundy, who was on the list in 2019-20. More recently he’s been playing with Deer Park, winning the best and fairest in 2023.
LUCA MURATORE, AIRPORT WEST TO WESTERN BULLDOGS:
Star AFL Western Bulldog Aaron Naughton recommended Muratore to the Bulldogs. Naughton is a development and assistant coach at Essendon District league Airport West, where Muratore has emerged as a leading player, winning the competition goalkicking last year with 47 goals from 18 games. Airport West senior coach Brent Taylor said his club was chuffed to see the 180cm Muratore take the next step in his football. “He’s a really good, X-factor player,’’ Taylor said. “Watching his growth and development last year, he’s somebody who I think, if his body can handle the duress of higher level, has draftable characteristics.’’
ISAAC NIXON, BACCHUS MARSH TO WERRIBEE:
A 186cm forward, Nixon had a promising season at Bacchus Marsh last year after graduating from the Western Jets.
JACOB NOBLE, NOBLE PARK TO FRANKSTON:
Noble, a tall defender, was captain of Noble Park’s Under 19 team last year but played 16 games with the seniors and the club named him best first-year player. “He’s really competitive and strong in the air and in the match-sims he played he was really competitive against our key forwards,’’ Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg said of the ex-Narre South junior.
PADDY O’SULLIVAN, KOROIT TO NORTH MELBOURNE:
The elder brother of top Roos draft pick Finn is from the Hampden league, where made his debut for Koroit in 2021 and has played 59 games at senior level. In 2023 he gained 13 mentions in the best from 19 matches and captained Hampden’s Under 23 representative team. “He’s a forward/midfielder, fit and athletic and with a big frame on him,’’ Roos coach Tommy Lynch said.
DOM PAYMAN, OLD TRINITY TO COBURG:
Another recruit from Old Trinity for the Burgers, this time a 201cm ruckman/forward to support top big man Cooper Keogh. Payman booted 46 goals from 19 matches in VAFA Premier B last year and his marking showed up at the stand-alones carnival in March.
NED PENDERGAST, YARRAWONGA TO WILLIAMSTOWN:
Towners coach Justin Plapp thinks the club has found a player in Pendergast, who was regularly in the best for the strong Yarrawonga team last year. “A tough, good, one-on-one, medium-sized defender,’’ was Plapp’s pen-pic of the newcomer, who was named at full-back in the 2024 Ovens and Murray team of the year.
SAM PHILLIPS, OLD TRINITY TO RICHMOND:
Phillips had an encouraging first season of senior football with OT after coming out of the Under 19s and the Oakleigh Chargers.
STIRLING PHIPPS-PARSONS, OLD XAVERIANS TO CARLTON:
Phipps-Parsons was part of the Xavier College APA premiership team in 2021, then headed to South Australia for two years. He linked with VAFA power Old Xaverians last year and was named their “Rising Star’’.
JACK POLKINGHORNE, OLD SCOTCH TO CARLTON:
Polkinghorne, 22, figured in Scotch’s breakthrough premiership in the VAFA last season to earn an invitation to Carlton’s pre-season. He snared a contract after Christmas, joining a long list of Cardinals on VFL books. “Beautiful skills, left and right foot, reads the game well, he’s got a good leap on him and can take a grab,’’ Scotch coach Mark Gnatt said of Polkinghorne. “We ended up playing him more as a half-forward/wing last year so he was higher up the ground and could use his attributes. He had a really good couple of finals games. He was actually pivotal for us early in the grand final. He’s right in the prime spot with his footy. I think it’s all clicked now.’’
RILEY POLKINGHORNE, NORTH BALLARAT TO 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.
BEN QUAYNOR, ELTHAM TO NORTHERN BULLANTS:
The brother of top AFL Magpie Isaac spent some time training with Collingwood’s VFL program and earns his opportunity with the Ants after establishing himself in Eltham’s senior team in the Northern league.
JACK SAMMARTINO, BANYULE TO BOX HILL HAWKS:
Sammartino was recommended to the Hawks as a versatile player who, without no fanfare or fuss, performed his role for Banyule last year. He previously played at Northcote Park and Preston Bullants, where he kicked 50 goals in 2019.
CHRISTOPHER SCERRI, STRATHMORE TO NORTHERN BULLANTS:
Small and speedy, Scerri has made the Ants’ list straight out of the Strathmore Under 18s. He figured in the best players in 13 of his 19 games last year and Bullants assistant Rocky Iannello said he believed Scerri had a bright future. “He’s a wildcard, I reckon … people might be talking about him in 12 months,’’ he said. “He’s only a little fella but he’s got real ability to cover the ground, he’s quick, tough and he’s really won a lot of our playing group over.’’
LUKE SCICCHITANO, DEER PARK TO WILLIAMSTOWN:
Scicchitano trained with Willy last year and was contracted after a standout season with Deer Park in the Essendon District league.
TYSON SCOBLE, CARNGHAM-LINTON TO NORTH MELBOURNE:
The Trentham District junior has developed into an exciting onballer and forward in the Central Highlands league, playing under his father, Clayton. The 19-year-old left-footer is an apprentice carpenter and is travelling to Arden St from Daylesford to make a go of it with the Roos.
BLAKE SIMONDSON, SOUTH BELGRAVE TO BOX HILL HAWKS:
The speedy Simondson, who spent some time in North Melbourne’s VFL program, joins the Hawks from South Belgrave, where he was a consistent performer in the Eastern league last year.
LOCHIE SIMPSON, WODONGA RAIDERS TO 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.
MCLAREN SPITERI, PARK ORCHARDS TO NORTH MELBOURNE:
Spiteri, 21, ran third in his club’s best and fairest last year, with shrewd local football scribe Daniel Cencic noting he was “lighting it up across half-back, the midfield and in attack’’.
BEN STEPHENSON, UNI BLACKS TO SANDRINGHAM:
Stephenson first came through in senior football as a midfielder and forward at Mordialloc and has played for Uni Blacks in VAFA Premier for the past two seasons.
LIAM TAYLOR, NORTH RINGWOOD TO NORTHERN BULLANTS:
Taylor rose through the grades to become a senior player of stature at North Ringwood and gets his chance to go to another level with the Bullants as a mature and speedy midfielder and half back who can also play forward and back.
HUGH TRIGG, NORTH BALLARAT TO PORT MELBOURNE:
The 187cm forward became the fourth North Ballarat player to join coach Brendan McCartney in the move to the Borough. He made his senior debut for the Roosters in 2023 and kicked 16 goals from 11 games last year. A much-decorated junior player, Trigg also spent time with the Greater Western Victoria Rebels.
JOSH WALKER, COLLEGIANS TO COBURG:
Walker had been training with Collingwood’s VFL squad before the Lions enticed him to the City Oval. He was a Rising Star nomination in the VAFA last year after snaring nine mentions in the best in 19 games for Collegians. “Josh’s improvement throughout the year has been profound. He is very competitive, and also possesses a high level of class and skill that compliments his hardness,’’ Collegians said. “He started out as a wing/forward but has now progressed into an on-ball role. He’ll still go forward at times, and regularly hits the scoreboard.’’
TYLAR WATTS, GEELONG WEST TO WERRIBEE:
A second stint with the Bees for Watts, who made his VFL debut under coach Mark “Choco’’ Williams in 2019. The 201cm ruckman played one match for Geelong VFL in 2023, going up against Collingwood and Mason Cox, and for the past four seasons has been at Geelong West.
TAYLEM WASON, WARRNAMBOOL TO BRISBANE:
Wason has made the long move from Warrnambool, where he won his club’s best and fairest last season and was in the Hampden league’s team of the year.
JACKSON WEIDEMAN, NORTH ALBURY TO NORTHERN BULLANTS:
The season defender is back in the VFL after spending last season with North Albury in the Ovens and Murray league. The nephew of Adelaide Crows cult figure Wayne was with Port Melbourne in 2022-23, playing 27 matches across half-back.
MALACHI WHITE, NORTH BALLARAT TO 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.
OWEN WILLIAMS, MT ELIZA TO FRANKSTON: The young forward kicked 20 goals for Mt Eliza in a premiership season last year. He played a handful of games for the Dandenong Stingrays in 2022 and again in 2023.
BROCK WILLIAMSON, LEOPOLD TO GEELONG:
The midfielder took the Frank Fopiani Medal after being judged best-afield for Leopold in last year’s Geelong league grand final against South Barwon. “His blistering run and damaging ball-use giving the Swans constant headaches,’’ reported Geelong Addy man Dan Batten.
BRADY WRIGHT, DARLEY TO WERRIBEE:
Wright came through in the Ballarat league last under the eye of the seasoned Dan Jordan at Darley, booting 30 goals from 16 matches. “He’s certainly very talented,’’ Jordan said of Wright, who was on Geelong’s 2023 VFL list but missed most of the season with a back injury. “We made a plan to slowly return him to footy but he had a knee and missed two or three weeks and then he punctured a lung. But he showed enough, particularly in the last five or six weeks of the year, to be a dominant forward. I believe he’s an AFL talent, so I was pretty keen to get him into a VFL program.’’
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