Gippsland: Moe signs former Adelaide teammates Ben Crocker and Myles Poholke
Moe will remain a force in the Gippsland league in 2025 with the addition of two players with recent AFL experience. See who they’ve signed.
Moe has made a massive statement on remaining in the upper echelon of Gippsland league clubs in 2025 by signing former Adelaide Crows’ teammates Ben Crocker and Myles Poholke.
Crocker played 26 senior matches for Collingwood before joining Adelaide in 2020 where he played alongside Poholke, who played 16 matches for the Crows.
Crocker has spent the last four seasons in VFL ranks with Carlton and Collingwood.
Poholke’s older brother Leigh will coach Moe next year, replacing Declan Kielty, who will remain at the club and is back training after hurting his knee in finals this year.
“They’ve had a relationship for quite some time so it was good to get that deal done,” Leigh said of his two star signings.
Crocker won the Blues VFL best and fairest in 2021 and joined Collingwood last season where he played 13 matches at VFL level.
Myles Poholke has been one of the stars of the Mornington Peninsula-Nepean division one competition, winning Sorrento’s best and fairest in 2023 and finishing runner-up three times.
“He’s led going into the last round of the count four times and been pipped three times,” Leigh said.
The Poholke brothers were born in Moe and their dad lives at nearby Tanjil South.
Leigh coached Sorrento between 2022 and 2024.
He said the chance to end the club’s premiership drought stretching back to 1967 when it upset hot favourites Bairnsdale was part of the challenge of taking on the coaching job.
“I’m probably on the back end of my playing career,” he said.
“But the club hasn’t won a flag for 60 years, so to go back and try and bring a premiership to the town would be a great thing to do.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Reigning Trood Award Rodda Medal winner Riley Baldi will have another shot at VFL with Casey Demons next year, but Moe hopes he can still qualify to play finals.
Kristian Jaksch, who hasn’t played since early 2023 due to a knee injury, could also line-up for Moe next year.
YARRAGON
Success-starved Yarragon has injected some star power into the Ellinbank District league with the signing of man mountain former AFL player Braydon Preuss.
A late starter in the game, the imposing 205cm, 114kg ruckman played 28 AFL matches at three clubs, North Melbourne, Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney before being released by the Giants at the end of the 2024 season.
Preuss was struck down with a back injury this year.
Yarragon coach Sam van der Zalm said he and Preuss had been “mates for four or five years” and used that connection to pull off one of the league’s biggest signings in recent seasons.
“It worked to our advantage,” van der Zalm said.
Sydney premiership ruckman Shane Mumford returned to his original club Bunyip when Isaac Smith played his one-off appearance as part of the Carlton Draft.
But van der Zalm said Preuss would be a full time player for Yarragon, which has not won a flag since 1977 when it crossed to the Mid Gippsland league after 16 years in the West Gippsland league.
Yarragon joined the Ellinbank District league in 2019.
“To get someone who has had 10 years in the AFL system, we’re pretty lucky,” van der Zalm said.
“He’s motivated to help us achieve success.
“We’ve been starved of success and pretty keen to get back to being a stronger club.
“We’ve got 10 or 11 other recruits who are pretty exciting as well.
“We’ve put a lot of work into recruiting this off-season.
“Things are looking up.”
Yarragon won four matches this year and finished ninth.
“We had a lot of injuries and things didn’t pan out how we wanted them to,” van der Zalm said.
“But we’ve managed to retain 95 per cent of our playing list and we are adding onto that.
“We’ve created a good environment and people want to be around the club.
“If you’re having fun and enjoying you’re footy then people want to come.”
After two years as assistant coach, van der Zalm took over as senior coach this year after previously playing for Nar Nar Goon.
NORTH ALBURY
North Albury has significantly bolstered its midfield group with the signing of Goulburn Valley league best & fairest winner Ben Rigoni.
The Ovens & Murray club’s push for more player points than already allocated will come in handy with the signing of Ben Rigoni, who won the GV Morrison Medal in 2022 and split his playing time between Seymour and VFL team Coburg for the last two seasons.
North Albury has risen from a wooden spoon finish in 2022 to a preliminary final finish this year.
But under changes to the points system, North Albury will drop from 46 to 39 points next year.
The club is appealing to the AFLNEB Commission for more points.
The signing of Rigoni will also remove some opposition focus from coach Tim Broomhead, who has overseen North Albury’s on field revival.
Late in the season, particularly finals, Broomhead was being heavily tagged by opposition teams.
Rigoni is the second Morrison Medal winner from Seymour to join an O&M club in recent times.
Jack O’Sullivan joined Wodonga as co-coach this year and was starring at his new club until missing the last eight games due to injury.
In a further boost, Rigoni will relocate to the border and play full-time for North Albury in 2025.
North Albury is also keeping close tabs on delisted St Kilda player and former junior, Ben Paton.
Paton played 55 matches for St Kilda, mainly as a small defender.
Greater Western Sydney and Sydney are reportedly interested in offering him an AFL lifeline.
WARRAGUL
Warragul will have the services of former Goulburn Valley league and Carlton VFL star Will Hayes for a minimum six matches in the Gippsland league next season.
Hayes was one of the GV’s standout players in 2023 for Euroa before returning to Carlton to play in the VFL this year where he finished the season strongly.
Jed Lamb, who was at Carlton at the same time as Hayes and going into his third season as Warragul coach in 2025, said the signing of the top-line player and horse trainer was a huge boost to the club.
“It’s huge for us,” Lamb said.
“Any time you get any sort of AFL experience to a local club it’s invaluable.
“It gets the town, all the supporters and the committee buzzing.”
Hayes trains horses alongside his brothers Ben and JD with their Lindsay Park stable opening a base at Pakenham, near Warragul, in April.
Lamb said the addition of other recruits including Sydney VFL player Koby Grass, Brayden Hefford, Lachlan Wilson, Jordan and Zac Stewart, Tom Hillard, James Harrison and Damon Eastwell was fuelling expectations of playing finals next year.
“We beat everyone who played finals this year except Leongatha,” Lamb said.
“Our good is really good and it’s just a matter of winning the games we’re meant to win.”
Hayes will be eligible to play finals if Warragul makes the top five next year.
JD Hayes, who had a stint as Euroa coach, will play for Violet Town next year when racing commitments permit.
Carlton’s VFL club announced the re-signing of Will Hayes and Echuca’s Logan Prout last month.
Prout played 12 matches for Carlton in the VFL before returning to play in another Echuca premiership team.
Euroa is still in the market for a coach to replace Ryan Pendlebury, who signed with Geelong club St Mary’s at the weekend.
SHEPPARTON
Goulburn Valley league runner-up Shepparton has regained the services of a former VFL player.
Matt Shannon played 44 matches for the Bears before firstly playing for the Blues and then being elevated to captain.
He joined Southport last year and was promoted to the club’s leadership group at the start of this year.
Shannon was also member of Southport’s grand final team this year that went down to Werribee.
Shepparton has also been targeting one of Shannon’s Southport teammates, Jack Sexton, about also playing in the GV next year.
Shannon has also previously played for Tatura and Congupna.
MARONG
Marong has appointed co-coaches to in a bid to keep its stunning run of recent success in the Loddon Valley league going in 2025.
Triple premiership coach Linton Jacobs stepped down after the club’s third successive flag and has returned to Colbinabbin in the Heathcote District league.
Veteran forward Kain Robins and the club’s under-18s coach this year will take over.
Robins has played in Marong’s three flags and was the club’s leading goalkicker this year following the departure of star full forward Brandyn Grenfell.
Robins is also a two-time premiership player at Bendigo club Eaglehawk and has also previously coached his home club, Hopetoun, and Charlton.
CASTLEMAINE
Castlemaine’s chances of ending a two-decade finals drought in the Bendigo Football League has gathered further momentum with the signing of Maryborough coach Coby Perry for next season.
Castlemaine and South Bendigo have been the most active clubs in the off-season to date with Castlemaine securing Perry for 2025 when Maryborough will be in recess.
“I’m super excited to join Castlemaine,” Perry said.
“We share so much commonality so it’s a great fit personally.”
Maryborough defender Kya Lanfranchi will also remain in the Bendigo league and play for Strathfieldsaye.
Castlemaine was also in the doldrums with Maryborough, but the signing of former AFL player Michael Hartley as coach was the catalyst for a charge up the ladder this year.
Castlemaine finished sixth, two wins behind fifth-placed Eaglehawk, but beat Eaglehawk and two other finalists, Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye, in the second half of the season.
Castlemaine has also added former GWS and Gold Coast listed player, Jake Stein, Ronnie Fejo and 204cm ruckman Patrick Balta for next season.
Meanwhile, Kangaroo Flat has regain ruckman Nick Lang for next season.
Lang has played the last two seasons for Kerang in the Central Murray league for a flag in 2023 and a grand final loss to Nyah Nyah West United this year.
His return is one of the most significant signings since the appointment of co-coaches Tyrone Dowine and Corey Greer.
KYABRAM
Kyabram is looming as a serious challenger to Goulburn Valley league powerhouse Echuca with a swag of signings including the Murray league best & fairest winner and a host of former players heading back to the club.
Moama midfielder Jack Russell, who tied for the O’Dwyer Medal in the Murray league this year, is the latest recruit confirmed by Kyabram.
Tom Holman, who won Moama’s best & fairest this season, is also headed back to Kyabram where he is a four-time premiership player.
Other players Kyabram co-coaches Corey Carver and Kaine Herbert have been able to convince to return include Coby McCarthy, who played at GV rival Mooroopna this year, Jack Sheldon, who also played at Moama this year, Sam Vick, Billy McLay and small forward Jarryd Pertzel.
“We identified pretty early this season that we had guys playing at other clubs,” Carver said.
“We would be crazy not to got hard and try and get them back.
“I’m a big advocate of every small town getting as many families and locals playing in your town as you can.
“It creates a good buzz and vibe about the place.”
In further bonuses, Kyabram will regain No. 1 ruckman Zac Norris from a horror 2024 that included two shoulder surgeries and 2019 Morrison Medal winner Mick Mattingly.
Mattingly returned to Kyabram after two seasons with SANFL club West Adelaide.
But he was restricted to only two matches this year and underwent back surgery.
Kyabram made finals this year, but bowed out to Mooroopna in an elimination final.
Echuca thrashed Shepparton in the grand final to complete a hat-trick of flags in the GV for the first time.
Carver said he hoped Kyabram could make some inroads into its dominance.
“It’s not all about personnel and recruiting,” he said.
“You’ve got to put a pretty good system and game plan in place because (Echuca) knows theirs back to front and that’s why they are so good.”
POLL: Following a signing spree can Kyabram seriously challenge Echuca in @GVLeague next season? @theweeklytimes@ctryfootyscores
— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) October 29, 2024
Echuca star Angus Byrne will play for Noosa next year after spending most of the 2024 season overseas.
The former Geelong VFL captain played the first seven matches for Echuca this year before heading overseas.
His younger brother Hugh played in Echuca’s grand final demolition.
BAIRNSDALE
Bairnsdale has locked in a group of players headed by reigning best & fairest winning midfielder Will Mitchell, who have been pivotal in taking the club to the brink of playing finals in the Gippsland league.
The club has confirmed Mitchell, Hugh Longbottom, Cooper Harvey, Tom Blenheim, Lachlan Byrne-Jones and Xavier Richards had “committed” to playing again next year.
The six players have been recruited from Victorian Amateur clubs including Old Scotch and Old Xaverians clubs over the last two seasons.
Mitchell, Richards and Byrne-Jones came on board in 2023 followed by Longbottom, Harvey and Blenheim this year.
Mitchell, the brother of Brownlow Medal winner Tom, won the club’s best & fairest from ruckman Ethan East.
Richards, who played in Sydney’s losing 2015 grand final team, has hampered by soft tissues in his two seasons with Bairnsdale.
He played only five games this year after nine in 2023.
Kane Ashwood has taken over as Bairnsdale coach from Logan Austin, who has joined SANFL club West Adelaide.
Bairnsdale was in finals contention until dropping its last three matches to Wonthaggi, Leongatha and Sale.
EUROA
Goulburn Valley league club Euroa has unexpectedly entered the coaching marketplace with Ryan Pendlebury’s increased commitments at AFL club North Melbourne forcing him to step down.
The brother of Collingwood champion Scott had been working for the Kangaroos in addition to coaching Euroa since the middle of the year.
But the recently expanded role meant he wouldn’t be able to manage both jobs in 2025.
“The football IQ Ryan brought to the role at Euroa has certainly been recognised at the elite level,” Euroa president Scott Watson said.
“To that end, Euroa has now opened up an expression of interest process for a new coach for season 2025 and beyond.”
Pendlebury joined the Kangaroos AFLW coaching panel mid-year and they are presently on top of the ladder.
He took over as Euroa coach from Scott Rowan, who had six years in the job including making a grand final two years ago, losing to Echuca by only 12 points.
COHUNA KANGAS
Cohuna Kangas coach Jack Geary will be joined by another former Golden Square teammate at the Central Murray club next season.
Following the return of star playmaker Tom Toma earlier this week, Ricky Monti has also agreed to join the Kangas.
It is a massive blow to Golden Square’s chances of returning as a force in the Bendigo league next year.
The lure of being part of Cohuna Kangas’ first flag since the 1996 merger between Cohuna and Union was a big factor in Toma returning to the Kangas.
He is a three-time club best & fairest at the Kangas and has also been a star player for Golden Square in the Bendigo league.
Toma has won another three club best & fairests at Golden Square and played in its 2023 premiership alongside Geary and Monti.
Toma also played 11 matches with Essendon’s VFL team this year in addition to six matches for Square including its two finals appearances.
“He’s always enjoyed playing at Cohuna, but he’s also taken his footy to Bendigo and the VFL,” Geary said.
“The one thing missing from his resume is the flag at Cohuna.”
Month has been runner-up in two Golden Square best & fairest awards in only four seasons at senior level.
He also played for Essendon’s VFL team this year with Golden Square announcing his re-signing with the club in August.
Cohuna Kangas recovered from a slow start to the season to make finals.
They were beaten by a fast-finishing Balranald at Balranald in the elimination final after leading by 49 points at halftime.
“We couldn’t cover the injuries we had early on in the season,” Geary said.
“But once we had a full list we really turned the corner.”
But with Toma’s return and some other key signings pending, the Kangas could make further progress towards an elusive flag next year.
Balranald coach Jydon and his brothers Matt and Jaxon have departed and will play for South Mildura next year.
Kerang’s premiership-winning era may have also ended with six-time flag winning coach Troy Coates taking on the South Bendigo coaching job.
Reigning premier Nyah Nyah West United has lost star goalkicker Brandyn Grenfell to Heathcote District league club Colbinabbin.
BAROOGA
Barooga has locked in Jeremy O’Brien as coach on a three-year deal to help revive the fortunes of the Murray league club.
O’Brien joins Barooga after being an assistant to Steve Johnson at Ovens & Murray club Yarrawonga, which suffered a shock defeat to Wangaratta Rovers in the grand final.
O’Brien was a two-time Yarrawonga premiership player in 2012-13 before coaching Tungamah for three years that included a flag in 2015 in his first year in the job.
He also played for Wangaratta Rovers and Goulburn Valley league club Shepparton.
Barooga dipped to 11th in the 12-team Murray league this year with two wins.
In the two seasons that followed the Covid interruptions, Barooga finished ninth in 2022 and eighth in 2023.
“It’s not going to be a quick fix,” O’Brien said.
“We’re not going to play in a grand final next year, but as long as were heading in the right direction it is going to be a two to three year plan.”
Best & fairest winner Angus Cameron has committed to return for 2025.
Meanwhile, near neighbour, Cobram will also have a new coach next year with Mark Meyland taking over from co-coaches Tim Garlick and Tyron Baden.
Congupna premiership coach Ben Bingham has been reappointed for another season.
WODONGA RAIDERS
Wodonga Raiders have signed triple VFL club best & fairest winner Will Fordham.
Fordham played for Williamstown this year, but won his three club champion awards at Frankston.
The former North Melbourne rookie will be a full-time player at Raiders with another former Williamstown player, Corey Rich, joining him this week in a major injection of talent into the club’s midfield.
Rich previously played at Mansfield under Chad Owens, who has returned to Raiders aiming to lift the club back up the O&M ladder.
The Raiders have also regained former junior Alex Pocock from Geelong league club Newtown & Chilwell.
Cam Ellis-Yolmen won Raiders best & fairest this season, but has moved to the Gold Coast with his playing future undecided.
VFL: Williamstown pair Will Fordham and Corey Rich on the move? They're being linked with an Ovens and Murray club. Fordham joined the Towners this year after three best and fairests at Frankston. Been a fine VFL player. Rich is also an ex-Dolphin and team-of-the-year pick. pic.twitter.com/6Di6xi6R91
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) October 21, 2024
Meanwhile, the recent appointment of Daryn Cresswell as Corowa-Rutherglen coach has had the expected response with a host of signings including Kaelen Bradtke and Tyler Roos.
Bradtke returns to Corowa-Rutherglen from stints with VFL clubs Richmond and Geelong and Roos played in the South Cairns premiership team coached by Cresswell this season.
Josh Clayton, who also played in the South Cairns flag team, will also be joining Corowa-Rutherglen.
Clayton is a Southport VFL premiership player and played two matches for the Brisbane Lions after being taken as a father-son selection in the national draft in 2014.
Roos and Clayton played one match for Corowa-Rutherglen this year.
Clayton also played for Wodonga in the O&M in 2021-22.
Corowa-Rutherglen has also added Griffith duo Nathan Richards and Jack Rowston.
Richards won the Riverina league Quinn Medal this season.
But Corowa-Rutherglen missed out on former junior Ryan Garthwaite, who made his senior debut for the club in 2015.
Garthwaite, who played 11 AFL matches for Richmond, has signed with Albury and is expected to be one of the most productive key forwards in the O&M next year.
Since finishing up at Richmond, Garthwaite has played for South Adelaide and Montrose.
LEONGATHA
Leongatha hasn’t totally shut the door on Dyson Heppell playing for the Gippsland league powerhouse next year.
After a shock loss to Traralgon in the grand final last month, Leongatha had hopes of the former Essendon captain reuniting with his brother Aaron in 2025.
But an expanding Bombers presence at VFL club Port Melbourne, including former coach James Hird and head recruiter Adrian Dodoro coming on board in support roles to new coach Brendan McCartney, has trumped Heppell’s original club.
Heppell signed a two-year contract with Port Melbourne this week.
“It will all be up to Port whether he can play for us when they have a bye or something,” Leongatha president Mal Mackie said.
“We’re still hoping to get four games from him.
“We certainly thought we were in the mix, but when ‘Hirdy’ got involved, things obviously changed a bit.
“But I know he still definitely wants to play with Tommy Marriott and his brother.”
Hird has taken on a coaching director role with Port Melbourne and was Essendon coach when the Bombers drafted Heppell in 2010.
Heppell will nominate Leongatha as his “home club” which allows him to play for the Parrots when not required for VFL duties.
If he plays four matches for Leongatha, as hoped, he will qualify to play finals.
Aaron Heppell, who previously played with Essendon’s VFL team, spent this season overseas, but will return to Leongatha next year.
He will be a major boost to their midfield stocks along with Old Melburnians onballer Ben Harding.
Leongatha has also recruited Buln Buln’s premiership century goalkicker Patrick Ireland.
Ireland booted four goals in the grand final win against Ellinbank to take his season tally to 111.
In 2023, Ireland played for Gippsland league rival Warragul and Gippsland Power.
Leongatha recruited another young gun, Cooper Alger, from Warragul this year, but he and Jackson Harry missed the finals series due to injury.
Jake van der Pligt was also injured in the lead-up to the grand final and was ruled out.
Dual premiership coach Trent McMicking has been reappointed by Leongatha for 2025.
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