GVFNL: All the signings of the 2023-24 off-season
Goulburn Valley league clubs have left no stone unturned to improve their lists for 2023 with a number of players signing across the competition. Here’s the latest.
Goulburn Valley league clubs have been busy in the off-season as teams look to get ahead in the premiership race.
A number of players have already found new homes for 2023.
Here are all of the moves announced so far.
BENALLA
Jarrad Waite: The former North Melbourne and Carlton forward will now coach the Saints after playing for Benalla the past couple of seasons. Waite and the club hopes his signing will lead to a resurgence at the Saints.
Mark Marriott: The ruckman comes to the club after playing a handful of games for Geelong in the VFL this season. A former Benalla junior he comes back to the Saints after also playing for Cobden in the Hampden league, making 10 appearances for them this season. A key signing for the club.
Patrick Warner: Warner comes to the saints after playing for Wangaratta Magpies in the Ovens and Murray league for the past couple of seasons. The new Saints won a premiership with Wangaratta and is a utility capable of playing in multiple positions.
ECHUCA
No signings announced yet.
EUROA
Michael Barnes: The forward is at the Magpies after playing for St Bede’s in the VAFA for the past few years. He is a former captain at the Tigers and a four-time best and fairest. A handy addition to the team.
Tom Garside: Tom returns to the club after playing for St Bede’s this season in the VAFA. The new Magpie played in the teams last grand final appearance in 2022.
Dan Garside: The brother of Tom also comes back to Euroa after playing for St Bede’s in the VAFA. He will provide valuable leadership to the team.
Silver Yousif: Yousif moves to the Magpies after playing for Avondale Heights in the Essendon District league. He is a speedy player who can play in the forward line or on the wing. Yousif has also played football in the Northern Territory.
Ryan Pendlebury: The defender will take over as coach next year at the Magpies. He replaces Scott Rowan who left at the end of the season. This will be Pendlebury’s second season at Euroa after playing for Sale and Melton South recently. He is the brother of Collingwood superstar Scott Pendlebury.
KYABRAM
Mick Mattingly: The midfielder returns to the Bombers after playing for West Adelaide in the SANFL for the past two years. Before he played in the SANFL the Bomber won the best and fairest in the Goulburn Valley league, claiming the honour in 2019. Mattingly will provide leadership and skills to a team who made the grand final this year.
Corey Carver and Kaine Herbert: Both have been named as co-coaches of the club for next year. The duo takes over from Paul Newman who guided the team to three premierships in seven years.
Jake Torney: The son of former Kyabram player Andrew Torney. Jake comes from Mount Gravatt in the Queensland AFL. He is a hard running half back flanker who is looking to build up the footy ranks.
Bailey Tome: Another recruit from Mount Gravatt in the Queensland AFL. Tome is an inside midfielder who is good at getting hard ball gets.
Oliver Watt: Watt comes back to the club after playing for Tongala in the Murray league. He is a ruckman who can also play as a key defender down back.
Eamonn Ogden: The brother of Liam joins the club for next year. A former premiership winner at Keilor in the Essendon District league, he has been playing for Bacchus Marsh in the Ballarat league, making 16 appearances for them this season. Ogden is also a former VFL player with Essendon.
MOOROOPNA
Bayden Fallon: The former Cat returns to Mooroopna after playing for White Hills in the Heathcote league. Fallon trained with the club at times but now returns to Mooroopna to play for the first time since 2019.
Coby McCarthy: The 2021 Murray league best and fairest player has joined the Cats for next season. The midfielder joins from Tongala where he played more than 60 games and kicked more than 80 goals.
Jordan Formica: The former Cat returns home after playing for St Paul’s McKinnon in the Southern league Division 1 competition. He played five games last season for the Bulldogs after leaving the Cats at the end of the 2022 season.
ROCHESTER
Ryan O’Keefe: O’Keefe is one of two signings from Kangaroo Flat to join the Tigers in the off-season. O’Keefe is a key position player who is capable of playing in multiple positions. He also won last year’s best and fairest at the Kangaroos in the Bendigo league.
Mitch Trewella: The midfielder has signed for the Tigers after playing for Kangaroo Flat the past couple of seasons. He has been one of the best young guns in the Bendigo league the past two seasons and finished runner-up in the Kangaroos best and fairest this season.
Bailey McGee: Another recruit from the Bendigo league with McGee joining the Tigers after being at Kyneton the past couple of years. McGee is a midfielder who has also played for the Bendigo Pioneers in his career.
Bailey Boyack: The midfielder joins the Tigers from Echuca United in the Murray league. A hard-bodied midfielder who tough at the contest and will provide valuable depth to the team.
Elliott Taylor: The former Rochester junior is back at the club after playing for Newcomb in the Bellarine league. He last played for the Tigers in 2019, playing a mixture of reserves and seniors.
Hamish Heine: The former Oakleigh Charger will play for the Tigers this year. Heine is capable of playing in multiple positions and last year played for the University Blues in the VAFA.
SEYMOUR
Tom Maloney: The Lions have recruited Maloney from Norwood in the Eastern league. Maloney is an inside midfielder who won the 2022 best and fairest at the club and was also a VFL player for Box Hill.
David Mundy: The club legend will be playing for the Lions next season. Mundy is the games record holder for Fremantle in the AFL and the midfielder will be a handy addition to the team. He is expected to play the minimum games required to qualify for finals, if the Lions make it.
SHEPPARTON
Luke Smith: The 2018 Shepparton Bears premiership player returns after playing for Geelong in the VFL for the past couple of years. During the 2018 season he kicked 66 goals and is expected to play a similar role in the forward line next year.
Joel Brett: One of the leading goalkickers in country football is heading back to the Bears next year. Brett played for Golden Square the past couple of seasons, kicking 92 and 98 goals respectively and helping the team to win this year’s Bendigo league title. A gun recruit for the club.
Ash Holland: The ruckman returns to the Bears after playing for Waaia in the Picola District league and helping the team to the past two premierships. Holland was part of the Bears 2018 premiership success and will be looking to repeat it next year.
Liam Duguid: The former Golden Square player comes back to the Bears after helping the Bulldogs win the Bendigo league. The midfielder will provide valuable leadership to the team.
SHEPPARTON SWANS
Mark Kovacevic: The ruckman joins the Swans from West Preston Lakeside in the Northern league. Kovacevic, at 204cm, will be a stern test for other ruckman in the competition.
Hugh Mason: The former VFL player will join the Swans and be a valuable asset on and off the field. Mason joins the club after a distinguished playing career. He is also an exercise physiologist at North Melbourne in the AFL women. Mason will lead a similar role at the Swans and make sure the team is prepared for the new season.
Luke Davies: The new Swan comes to the club from Lancaster in the Kyabram league. The key defender has helped Lancaster to win the past two premierships in the competition.
Matt Perry: One of the leading forwards in the Eastern league has joined Shepparton Swans for this year. Perry the past two seasons has played for Waverley and was captain when the team won the Division 3 premiership in 2022.
SHEPPARTON UNITED
Jack McCartney: Returns back to the Demons after moving to Melbourne. McCartney is a former under-16 best and fairest at the club and is a midfielder who will add more depth to the team.
Will McCartney: The brother of Jack also comes back to the club next year. McCartney is a midfielder who can also play in the forward line.
Dae Szydlik: Szydlik comes to the club from Ormond in the VAFA and won the best and fairest at the club in 2022. He returns to football after taking a year off to travel.
Will Donaghey: A utility player who comes to the Demons from the Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray league. Donaghey also played for Coburg in the VFL in 2019.
Jesse Cucinotta: Will be the player/assistant coach at the Demons next year after returning to the club following time in Melbourne. Cucinotta has played for Box Hill and Port Melbourne in the VFL for the past six years.
Aaron Britten: Britten comes to the club after playing for Deer Park in the Western Region league and for Balwyn in the Eastern league recently. The new signing was in the Eastern league team of the year last season and is a handy recruit for the team. Can play in the middle or at halfback.
Fraser Hicks: The former Shepparton United player comes back to the club after playing for Balwyn also in the Eastern league. He joins Britten at the club from the Tigers.
Sam Jackson: The ruckman moves to the Demons from Lancaster in the Kyabram league. He played in the teams reserves premiership while also making a couple of appearances in seniors for the Wombats.
Fred Wilkinson: The key backman moves to the club after playing for the Wangaratta Rovers in 2023. He only played five games with injury forcing him out of action for most of the year. Wilkinson will be hoping for an injury free year to help the Demons up the ladder.
TATURA
Aidyn Johnson: The former Port Adelaide player has joined the Bulldogs for next year. He’s a midfielder who has played games at the AFL, SANFL and VFL level. In recent times he has been with Avondale Heights in the Essendon District league. Johnson is expected to provide more depth to the Bulldogs in the middle of the ground.
Tyle Williams: A midfielder who can also play in the forward line. Williams comes to the Bulldogs from Lake Boga in the Central Murray league. He also has played for Coburg in the VFL and in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league for Rosebud.
Jacob Simpson: The ruckman is another recruit from the Lake Boga Football Netball Club. Simpson played most of his football in Queensland in the QAFL for the Maroochydore Football Club. He is set to bolster their stocks in the ruck.
Jake Warren: Another recruit from the Lake Boga Football Netball Club. Warren is a midfielder who has also played in Queensland and at VFL level for Aspley.
Jhdara Jones: The tall defender will play country footy this season after moving from Avondale Heights in the Essendon District league. At 191cm not only is he tall but he is quick, according to the club. So he is capable of playing in multiple positions.
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Originally published as GVFNL: All the signings of the 2023-24 off-season
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