Keep up to date with all the latest NFNL senior men’s and women’s transfer news ahead of the 2023 football season.
This page will provide rolling coverage from the transfer table, ahead of the start of the 2023 senior season, which begins on Good Friday, April 7th.
Continue below for all the latest from the transfer table.
MARCH 30
Lower Plenty have announced the return of 2018 premiership captain Patrick Flynn following a two-year stint at Macleod.
Flynn played 152 games before the Bears between 2009 and 2019 before heading to the Roos where he all made an appearance in all 30 games across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, being named in his side’s best on 13 occasions.
The ruckman won the 2018 Division 2 men’s best and fairest, made four Team of the Year sides (one in Division 1 and three in Division 2) and was a member of two Division 2 premierships during his time with Lower Plenty.
MARCH 18
Cooper Perrin is set to depart Hurstbridge to join Great Western in the Mininera and District Football League.
Perrin spent his junior career at Yarrambat and played 30 under-19’s and two senior games with Bundoora before joining the Bridges in 2017, where he kicked 90 goals in 62 games including 21 goals in 14 games last year.
MARCH 17
After transferring to Nyah Nyah West United in the Central Murray Football Netball League in February, Kain Proctor looks to have lodged a transfer to rejoin Bundoora ahead of the 2023 season.
Proctor spent the last two years at Bundoora, playing every single match for the club. He kicked 13 goals in 21 games last year during the Bulls’ grand final run, being named in his side’s best eight times.
After spending two seasons with Hurstbridge, Tyson Old is set to return to Northcote Park in 2023.
Old played 24 games with the Bridges between 2021 and 2022 but is now looking to return to Bill Lawry Oval where he played 51 senior games between 2016 and 2019.
Tynan Smith’s transfer request to join Torquay in the AFL Barwon FNL from Greensborough has been approved.
Smith played 14 games for the Northern Bullants in 2022, kicking 15 majors. He made three senior appearances for the Boro last year, including a five-goal haul against Northcote Park in Round 13 and the elimination final defeat to West Preston-Lakeside.
The forward kicked 51 goals in 37 games for the Boro and also previously represented Essendon in the VFL.
MARCH 15
Darebin have submitted transfers for a quartet of their club’s VFLW talent after all four players were aligned with the VU Western Spurs in 2022.
After joining the Falcons’ VFLW side from the Western Bulldogs AFLW and VFLW teams last year, the NFNL Falcons have submitted transfers for Angelica Gogos and Simone Ruedin.
Gogos played 28 AFLW games after being signed by the Bulldogs in 2016 and was a part of the club’s 2018 premiership side before retiring from the AFLW in 2021. She played seven games for Darebin’s VFLW side in 2022.
Meanwhile Ruedin played 9 VFLW matches with the Falcons last year after winning the Western Bulldogs VFLW best and fairest in 2021.
Alyssa Mifsud comes across after five years with the Spurs, a time period which included a premiership with the club in 2019.
Mifsud played nine AFLW games for Melbourne between 2017 and 2018 and has played 25 games in the last two seasons with Darebin’s VFLW side.
The final player of the quartet is Ashleigh Gunn who has spent the last two seasons playing in the Falcons VFLW side, not missing a match between 2021 and 2022. She also played eight VFLW games with the Western Bulldogs in 2019 and will be a part of the club’s NFNL list in 2023.
Former Northern Knights co-captain Mikayla Plunkett has also submitted a transfer request to join Darebin after one year with Yarra Old Grammarians in the VAFA.
She played five senior women’s matches for Lower Plenty in the 2021 season, and has also represented Darebin at VFLW level, playing 12 games last year.
2022 Division 3 reserves best and fairest Ethan Wild will depart Mernda after just one season, submitting a transfer to Ivanhoe in the VAFA.
Wild was the joint best and fairest winner alongside Laurimar’s Michael Brennan and Kilmore’s Alexander Vasilevski following a season where he finished in his side’s best in 10 of 16 games. He also made three senior appearances for the Demons last year.
MARCH 14
Banyule’s Lincoln Sieben has requested a transfer to join Lake Boga in the Central Murray Football Netball League.
Sieben played all 12 games for the Bears in the shortened 2021 campaign, his first year at the club, before playing all but two games for Banyule last year, one of the games he missed being the 2022 Division 2 men’s grand final.
MARCH 8
Kinglake has submitted transfers for multiple players ahead of their return to the NFNL this season.
Headlining the inclusions is three-time Bundoora reserves premiership player Jayden Petruccelle, who made 127 reserves appearances with the Bulls between 2012 and 2022 and Mernda’s Rory McIntyre who heads to the Lakers after 10 senior games with the Demons in the previous two years.
Kyle Wheatley has had his transfer to Bundoora approved today.
The forward had a breakout 2022 campaign, kicking 43 goals in 17 games for Watsonia while also earning his first Team of the Year selection in the Division 2 men’s side.
Lower Plenty’s Thomas Blake is set to depart the club after submitting a transfer to join Division 2 rivals Panton Hill in 2023.
Blake returns to the Redbacks after spending four years at the club between 2014 and 2017, making 65 senior appearances and kicking 55 goals.
He was a 2016 Division 2 men’s Team of the Year centre half forward while representing the club after kicking 15 goals in 16 games. He also claimed the Division 2 men’s Coaches MVP that same season.
Blake will join Bears teammates Tom Keys and Matt Duckworth at A.E. Cracknell Reserve.
Meanwhile Heidelberg’s Jaicob Kenny has submitted a second transfer to join Tooleybuc Manangatang in the Central Murray Football Netball League after it was first denied in mid-February.
Kenny played the first nine senior games of the 2022 campaign before playing out the rest of the year in the reserves side. He had previously played 80 senior matches for Labrador and made nine NEAFL appearances, representing both the Gold Coast Suns and Southport.
MARCH 7
Mitchell Clamp’s transfer from Lower Plenty to MPFNL side Karingal has been approved.
Clamp is a Research junior and has played senior football at the Bears since 2016, playing 47 senior games.
MARCH 5
Greensborough duo Josh Caddy and Zak McCubbin are set to depart the club, both completing their transfers to SFNL outfit Port Melbourne Colts.
Caddy joined the Boro after announcing his AFL retirement in May last year, following a 174-game career with Gold Coast, Geelong and Richmond, winning two premierships with the latter.
The NFNL junior played eight games, kicked nine goals and was named in his side’s best on three occasions in 2022. Caddy was unveiled as a player-coach of the Colts in September
McCubbin played 62 games across four seasons at the Boro, kicking 87 goals. He was the senior men’s side’s leading goalkicker in 2022, booting 33 majors in 17 games and kicking goals in all but two matches throughout the season.
MARCH 3
EDFL side Pascoe Vale are looking to pick up Division 1 duo Sunny Brazier and Joshua Iacobaccio for the 2023 season.
Brazier spent just one season with Hurstbridge, kicking 17 goals in 16 games and being named in the best on eight occasions. He also played four VFL games witht he Northern Bullants in 2022, adding to his five games with the club in 2021.
Iacobaccio also spent just one season at his Division 1 club West Preston-Lakeside after transferring from Bundoora.
He kicked 16 majors in 14 games and made four appearances with Essendon’s VFL side in 2022.
Meanwhile two-time Division 3 women’s Team of the Year defender Shenay Reeves has had her transfer request to join Adelaide Football League side Tea Tree Gully approved.
The 21-year-old played all but one game for Mernda during their grand final run last year, making 25 appearances for the Demons in total since joining the club in 2021. She also played 21 senior games for South Morang between 2018 and 2019.
MARCH 2
Brody Tickell is on the move after just one season with Panton Hill, lodging a transfer to head to Perth Football League side Bassendean.
The forward kicked eight goals in nine games for the Redbacks last year after making 58 senior appearances for Greensborough between 2016 and 2021, kicking 78 majors.
James Tadd has submitted a transfer request to join Northcote Park ahead of their return to Division 2.
Tadd switched to Epping in 2021 following five years and two premierships with West Preston-Lakeside. He played 28 of a possible 30 games for the Blues in the last two seasons, being named in his side’s best on 16 occasions.
MARCH 1
Two-time Division 3 men’s best and fairest Chris Ryall has completed his move to West Preston-Lakeside ahead of the 2023 season.
Ryall kicked 41 goals in 41 games for Kilmore between 2019 and 2022, a three-season span which included two league best and fairest’s, a Coaches MVP and three Team of the Year selections.
The 23-year-old joins the Roosters as they look to return to the top of the mountain in Division 1.
Tom Sullivan’s transfer to return to Heidelberg has been lodged.
Sullivan comes back to Warringal Park following two seasons with Tatura in the Goulburn Valley Football League. The 33-year-old made 71 appearances for the Tigers between 2016 and 2019, a span which included a premiership with the club in 2016 and a Team of the Year appearance in 2017.
Northcote Park have officially lodged transfers for multiple recruits heading into the 2023 campaign.
NFNL quartet Adrian Cirianni (Epping), Chris Clark (Greensborough), Damon Marcon (Epping) and Matthew Perazzola (Preston) have all been publically annouced as signings by the club over the last few months but have now had their transfers officially submitted.
FEBRUARY 28
Tristan Stead has lodged a transfer to join Beechworth in the Tallangatta and District Football League after over 200 senior games with Greensborough.
Stead is a former club captain, a two-time premiership player (under-19’s in 2009 and senior’s in 2014), an NFNL representative in 2016, as well as a Team of the Year member and Greensborough best and fairest winner in 2015.
The 32-year-old played all 19 games for the Boro last year, kicking six goals.
West Preston-Lakeside’s Kobe Brown will depart the club after two seasons, following his transfer submission to join EDFL outfit Deer Park.
He kicked 12 goals in 18 appearances for the Roosters and has also spent the last two years in the VFL system with Essendon (2021) and the Northern Bullants (2022), playing six games across the two clubs.
FEBRUARY 27
Lower Plenty’s Andrew White is looking to leave Lower Plenty after four years at the club and is set to join Division 2 rival Diamond Creek.
The 21-yer-old has played 27 senior games for the Bears since making his debut in 2019 and kicked nine goals in 14 games for the club last year.
FEBRUARY 26
Kilmore forward Matthew Swindells is on the move after his transfer submission to join Tallangatta and District Football League side Chiltern was approved.
Swindells played four NFNL seasons with the Blues between 2018 and 2022, kicking 85 goals in 44 games.
FEBRUARY 24
2022 Division 2 men’s premiership ruck Tim Martin will depart the club after four years following his approved transfer request to RDFNL side Woodend-Hesket.
Martin played three seasons with the Bears and was named in his side’s best in 27 of his 40 games during that span. He is also a two-time Division 2 men’s Team of the Year ruckman and was instrumental in his side’s premiership run las year, winning the bets on ground medallion in the grand final victory.
Eltham have lodged the transfer for wingman Liam Frazer from the MPFNL.
Frazer spent two seasons with Sorrento after an impressive eight-year span with Balwyn in the EFNL where he was an interleague representative in 2015 and played an integral role in the Tigers’ three premier division flags in 2012, 2015 and 2016.
Bridgette Taylor-Gray is set to join Banyule for the 2023 season.
A two-time NFNL representative, Taylor-Gray will join the Bears after three seasons with Bundoora as well as three games with the combined Lower Plenty-Bundoora side last year. Her best season came during the 2018 campaign where she was named in her side’s best in eight of 14 games, earning a Division 3 women’s Team of the Year selection as well as a premiership medallion with the Bulls.
Eltham reserves premiership player Liam Rushton-McCoach will join neighbouring Old Eltham Collegians following his approved transfer today.
The 22-year-old kicked six goals in 18 reserves games for the Panthers last year, and made his senior debut in Eltham’s Round 10 nail-biting victory over Lower Plenty.
FEBRUARY 23
2022 Division 3 reserves leading goalkicker Jesse McKinnon has had his lodged transfer to Greensborough approved.
McKinnon returns to his junior club after four years and 21 senior games with Laurimar. The forward kicked 65 goals in 17 matches for the Power’s reserves side last year, including bags of 11 and 14 against Reservoir and Lalor respectively.
FEBRUARY 22
Greensborough’s transfer submission for Charlie Bowes has been approved today.
Bowes has spent the last couple of season’s with Brisbane Lions’ VFL side, playing 10 games in 2022, including two finals. The 20-year-old has joined Port Melbourne’s VFL list for the upcoming campaign but will play with the Boro when available.
Banyule forward Rebekah Di Paola is on to move after lodging a transfer to join VAFA outfit Caufield Grammarians.
She kicked 56 goals in just 20 games for the Bears between 2021 and 2022, with her 31-goal effort in 2021 not only being the highest tally in the Division 3 women’s competition that season, but also earning her a Division 3 women’s Team of the Year selection.
Kilmore’s Luke Chapman has submitted a transfer to head to the Kyabram District Football League, playing for Longwood.
Chapman is a Kilmore junior and player 59 NFNL senior games for the Blues in 2017 and then again between 2019 and 2022, kicking 45 goals in that time.
FEBRUARY 21
Thomastown have lodged the transfers for two recruits ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Jude Georgievski is expected to come across from Epping after nine seasons of junior and senior football with the Blues.
He played three senior games with the club last year, kicking two goals, and after playing eight games with the club in 2022, was again selected in the Northern Knights’ 2023 Coates Talent League squad.
Ashley Hood will also make his way to Main Street Recreation Reserve after his transfer was approved today.
Hood played 27 games for the Fitzroy Stars throughout the last two seasons and finished third in the Stars’ 2022 best and fairest count.
James Elliott will depart Lower Plenty after two seasons and 28 matches, joining EFNL club Blackburn.
He was named in his side’s best on six occasions during his 17 matches with the Bears last year.
Meanwhile 2013 premiership Eagle Laurence Umali is set to return to football, with Whittlesea confirming his comeback today.
Umali hasn’t played since 2018 but returns to the Whittlesea Showgrounds to add to his 65-game tally with the club across seniors, reserves and under-19’s.
2022 Eltham reserves premiership player James Taglieri has submitted a transfer to join Westmeadows after two seasons with the Panthers.
Taglieri kicked 23 goals in 14 reserves games for the club last year and also made four senior appaearances in the previous two campaigns.
Riley Livingstone has re-submitted his transfer to Panton Hill after it was denied earlier in the month.
The Fitzroy Stars ruck had originally lodged his transfer to the Redbacks on February 2, but the submission was denied on the same day.
UPDATE: Livingstone’s transfer has now been approved.
FEBRUARY 20
Northcote Park’s Brayden King will leave the club after one season following his transfer request to VAFA side Old Ivanhoe Grammarians.
After being involved with West Preston-Lakeside in 2021, King played 11 senior games with the Cougars last year, kicking four goals.
FEBRUARY 19
Luke Crowley has lodged a transfer to return to the NFNL, this time joining Old Eltham Collegians. Crowley has played 24 senior games in the league with Kilmore, West Preston-Lakeside and Whittlesea and joins the Turtles after spending last season with Dunolly.
FEBRUARY 18
Greensborough have officially submitted the transfer of Jack Newnes after announcing his signing publicly in January.
Newnes joins the Boro on a full-time basis after 207 AFL games with St Kilda and Carlton between 2012 and 2022. The 29-year-old shot into football folklore in 2020 after converting an incredibly difficult set shot from the boundary line, after the full-time siren, to help the Blues defeat Fremantle by four points in Perth.
He arrives at the club as a readymade replacement for 2019 Frank Rosbrook Medallist Tom Bell who departed Greensborough War Memorial Park after four years.
The Fitzroy Stars were a busy club today, lodging transfers for multiple new recruits as they prepare to tackle life in Division 3 in 2023.
Michael Graham returns to the club after two years in Queensland playing for Sandgate. He played 61 club games between 2008-2013 as well as the 2015 season and three years between 2017 and 2019.
Jungala Ellis played 14 matches with the Stars in two separate seasons (2015 & 2019) while playing his junior football with Keon Park and Northcote. The former Northern Knights representative joins from Ardmona in the Kyabram District Football Netball League.
Anthony Walker arrives after making appearances for both Rumbalara and Tallygaroopna in the 2022 season. In a recent feature, co-coach Lionel Proctor described Walker as a half back flanker who can also shift into key position roles.
The Stars have also submitted transfers for Raman Winmar (Rumbalara), Jasper McMullan (Buleen Templestowe) and William Stow (University Blues).
FEBRUARY 17
Matt Dornauf is set to return to Whittlesea lodging a transfer to join the Eagles from Tasmania.
Dornauf is a two-time premiership player with the Eagles (2010 & 2015) and has kicked 120 goals in 90 games in two different stints for the club between 2009 and 2017.
The 31-year-old spent last season at the Meander Valley Suns in Tasmania and also played 13 games for Macleod in 2019 as well as 32 matches for Epping between 2012 and 2013, one of those appearances being the Blues’ 2012 Division 2 men’s premiership win.
He also played four games for Essendon’s VFL side in 2016.
Heidelberg’s Jaicob Kenny is looking to depart the club after one season, lodging a transfer to join Tooleybuc Manangatang in the Central Murray Football Netball League.
Kenny played the first nine senior games of the 2022 campaign before playing out the rest of the year in the reserves side. He had previously played 80 senior matches for Labrador and made nine NEAFL appearances, representing both the Gold Coast Suns and Southport.
The transfer request has been denied at this point in time.
FEBRUARY 16
Samuel Indian is looking to depart Whittlesea after lodging a transfer today to sign with RDFNL outfit Macedon.
Indian kicked 24 goals in 34 senior games for the Eagles and was a member of the club’s Division 2 men’s premiership triumph in 2019. The forward had kicked 36 goals in 11 senior matches for South Morang prior to his stint with Whittlesea.
As of today, the transfer request has been denied.
Greensborough are set to lose a key contributor to their women’s program after Jessie Hulett submitted a transfer to join Essendon Douta Stars in the EDFL.
The two-time Team of the Year forward kicked 54 goals in 36 games for the Boro between 2019 and 2022 and kicked two goals in her side’s 2019 Division 3 women’s premiership victory.
Meanwhile Montmorency have recruited the services of 20-year-old Jaden Collins from Eltham.
Collins played eight VFL games for the Northern Bullants in 2022 and made nine senior appearances with the Panthers over the last two seasons.
FEBRUARY 15
Banyule are set to lose the services of premiership player Kai Davies after he lodged a transfer to return to Lavington.
In his one and only season with the Bears, Davies made 15 appearances, including all three finals games, and played a pivotal defensive role during his side’s premiership run.
Hurstbridge have announced the signing of forward Luke De Goldi from Eltham ahead of the 2023 campaign.
The 21-year-old made his senior debut for the Panthers last year in the side’s Round 4 triumph over Watsonia, and also kicked 16 goals in 15 games for the club’s reserves side in 2022.
FEBRUARY 14
North Heidelberg is set to lose a trio of players to other leagues, with Nicholas O’Neill heading to Nyah Nyah West United while Ryan McGhie departs to join Boort along with Shane Biggs.
O’Neill’s second stint at Shelley Street Reserve lasted just one season as he prepares to make the move to the Central Murray Football Netball League. He played 15 games for the Bulldogs last year, kicking three majors.
McGhie’s move to the North Central Football League marks an end to an impressive four season span with North Heidelberg. The defender played 67 matches for the club, not missing a game since Round 7, 2022.
Meanwhile Biggs has been on the Bulldogs list for the past four years, but only played one season with the club. The 2016 AFL premiership player appeared in 19 games for North Heidelberg in 2019, kicking 22 goals and being named in his side’s best on seven occasions.
FEBRUARY 13
Old Ivanhoe have secured two handy players from NFNL clubs with Greensborough’s Nick Riddle and Northcote Park’s Reed Jepson submitting transfers to join the VAFA side in 2023.
Riddle has been one of the most influential defenders in the NFNL competition and departs the Boro after 144 senior games between 2011 and 2022.
On top of playing in the club’s 2014 premiership, Riddle is a four-time NFNL representative and won the best on ground medal in the league’s 2019 triumph over the Geelong Football Netball League.
Riddle has made the Division 1 men’s Team of the Year eight times, including the last seven consecutive sides, and was also selected in the NFNL fan’s Team of the Decade.
Jepson leaves the Cougars after two years and 20 games with the club. He also played 21 games with Epping between 2018 and 2019 as well as 69 senior matches with the Preston Bullants in the VAFA.
Kain Proctor’s seven-year stint in the NFNL will come to an end after his transfer submission to the Nyah Nyah West United in the Central Murray Football Netball league was approved.
Proctor spent the last two years at Bundoora, playing every single match for the club. He kicked 13 goals in 21 games last year during the Bulls’ grand final run, being named in his side’s best eight times.
He has also kicked 54 goals in 71 games for the Fitzroy Stars in three separate stints.
After playing every game in the 2022 season with Whittlesea, Blake Fitzgerald is set to join Division 1 rivals Hurstbridge.
Fitzgerald kicked six goals in 17 games and was named in the Eagles’ best on six occasions in what was his best season for the club. The 21-year-old played 25 total senior games with Whittlesea between 2019 and 2022.
Thomastown have lodged transfers for Bundoora’s Matthew Morison and West Preston-Lakeside’s Makhoul Zakkour.
Morison is a member of the Bulls previous two reserves premierships and played a career high eight senior games for the club in 2022.
Meanwhile Zakkour played all but two matches for the Roosters last year, playing 72 senior games in total between 2016 and 2022, including the club’s 2019 grand final victory.
2022 Division 1 reserves leading goalkicker Blake Charles has submitted a transfer to join Division 2 outfit Watsonia.
The forward kicked 52 goals in last year’s home and away season to claim the award, as well as three further goals across three finals games.
Charles kicked four goals or more in a match on six occasions last year, but his season highlight came in the Magpies loss to Heidelberg in the preliminary final, kicking two majors while taking one of the marks of the year across all competitions.
Speaking of the Tigers, the Division 1 men’s reigning premiers look to have added Eltham’s Riley Byrne to their side in 2023.
Byrne played seven senior matches for the Panthers in 2022 to add to his six senior matches accumulated between 2018 and 2021.
He was a member of the club’s 2022 reserves premiership side and is also a two-time under-19’s premiership player with the Panthers.
FEBRUARY 11
Bundoora have announced the appointment of Rob Maiorana as Director of Football at the club ahead of the 2023 season.
Maiorana stepped down as senior coach of West Preston-Lakeside at the end of the 2022 campaign after coaching the club to back-to-back flags in 2018 and 2019. A past player, Maiorana returns to Yulong Reserve to “add further value to our football program” according to the Bulls’ social media accounts.
Forward Riley Alexander has submitted a transfer to join Lower Plenty from VAFA side La Trobe University.
The 20-year-old played in the club’s 2022 premiership triumph, kicking 80 majors for the year, leading the competition. goalkicking charts. He also finished in the top five in the VAFA’s Rising Star award.
Macleod have announced the departure of veteran Chris Long, who is set to join West Footscray.
The ruck played 174 senior games for the Roos, playing in the club’s 2015 Division 1 men’s premiership, and was also named in Macleod’s Team of the Decade. Long played nine senior games and kicked five goals last year.
Kilmore’s Ryan Eyre will join Seymour in the Goulburn Valley Football League after almost 100 career games with the Blues.
The 17-year-old made his senior debut in Round 15 last year, when he kicked four goals and was named in the best in a win against Lalor. On top of his two senior games, he also played one Coates Talent League match with the Calder Cannons in 2022.
FEBRUARY 10
Danko Bzenic’s impressive second stint with Montmorency lasted just one season after lodging a transfer to Central Murray Football Netball League side Woorinen.
Bzenic kicked 33 goals in 19 games with the Magpies in 2022, including a six and nine-goal haul in back-to-back weeks against Whittlesea in Round 14 and Macleod in Round 15.
Northcote Park today announced the signing of Matthew Perazzola.
He kicked 11 goals in 17 games for the Preston Bullants in the VAFA last season and returns to Bill Lawry Oval after playing with the club as a junior. He also made three senior appearances with the Cougars in 2018 before spending the following year at Lower Plenty
Joseph Nesci is making the move to Stanhope in the Kyabram District Football Netball League after two years and 12 senior matches with Macleod. Nesci played seven games and kicked one goal last season.
FEBRUARY 9
Former Collingwood player Liam McMahon has lodged his transfer to join Montmorency for season 2023.
The 20-year-old spent two years in the Magpies’ AFL program after he was selected with pick No.31 in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft. The forward turned defender played 19 VFL games for the Pies in last year.
An NFNL representative at both under-14 and under-15 level, McMahon played junior football with both Eltham and Greensborough.
McMahon has also signed on to play with Carlton in the VFL this season.
Jackson Starcevich will head to Newlyn in the Central Highlands Football League after two years with North Heidelberg.
He played just three games with the Bulldogs (none of those last year) after kicking 69 goals in 26 matches for Northcote Park.
The 2017 Division 1 men’s Team of the Year full-forward has 70 games of state league experience after previously playing in the NEAFL, WAFL and the VFL.
Midfielder Ben Harrisson has lodged a transfer from Eastern Football Netball League side Park Orchards in the hopes of joining Hurstbridge.
The Bridges also publicly announced his signing today, with the Carlton Academy player being described as “a genuine student of the game”.
Winger Nathan Franklin has lodged a transfer to join West Preston-Lakeside after spending time with Glenelg in the SANFL. He played seven reserves games with the Tigers in 2022.
FEBRUARY 8
Diamond Creek Women’s premiership ruck Leah Swain has re-signed with VFLW side Casey ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Swain made her debut for the Demons in their Round 8 clash with Wlliamstown, registering 29 hitouts in Casey’s 21-point triumph over the Seagulls.
The ruck played 13 games for Diamond Creek Women’s in their premiership run last year.
Premiership teammate Zoe Bailey will also join her at Casey this year. Bailey played six games for the Creekers last season, three of those in the club’s Division 1 side.
Diamond Creek duo David Mennen and Thomas Bennett are on the move after lodging transfers to Benalla in the Goulburn Valley Football League.
Mennen returns to the GVFL side after one year away from the club, having represented both the Creekers and Whittlesea throughout the 2022 campaign.
His time at the Eagles lasted eight games where he was named in the best on six occasions, while he made nine appearances with Diamond Creek, playing a starring role in his side’s narrow preliminary final loss to Eltham.
Bennett also makes his way back to the Saints after 14 games with the Creekers last year. His second stint at Coventry Oval lasted just the one season as the defender looks to add to his 94-game tally at Benalla.
21-year-old Willian Reinhold will depart Greensborough after just one season, returning to Temora in the Farrer Football Netball League.
Reinhold played five of the last six games during the Boro’s 2022 campaign and was a shining light in his side’s elimination final loss to West Preston-Lakeside. He also played 11 games for Port Melbourne’s VFL side last year.
More transfers were approved today including:
• Daniel Cookson from Old Ivanhoe (VAFA) to Heidelberg West
• Michael Florance from Hurstbridge to North Heidelberg
• Jackson Freebairn from Epping to Old Eltham Collegians
• Nathan Howard from Bundoora to Greensborough
• Mitchell Wild from Whittlesea to Hurstbridge
FEBRUARY 7
Banyule have lodged the transfer of Kurt Aylett from Myrtleford.
Aylett spent four years in the AFL system, playing one game for the GWS Giants in 2012 and two games for Essendon in 2014. He’s also played 110 state-level games in both the NEAFL and VFL between 2011 and 2019.
The 30-year-old joins the Bears after spending the last two seasons at Myrtleford, playing 11 games.
Northcote Park have announced the signing of Nick Balderanos for the 2023 season.
The 21-year-old heads to Bill Lawry Oval from EFNL side Surrey Park, he also played nine matches with the Oakleigh Chargers in 2019. According to their social media post, the Cougars describe him as “a tough inside midfielder” and “a skilled player by both hand and foot”.
It’s the sixth recruit the club has confirmed ahead of their return to Division 2 this year.
Multiple transfers were approved today including:
• Curtis Brown from Whittlesea to North Heidelberg
• Josh Callaway from Greensborough to Panton Hill
• Helena Katsios from West Preston-Lakeside to La Trobe University (VAFA)
• Daniel Kelly from Banyule to Heidelberg West
• Bree Unthank from Greensborough to Coburg (VAFA)
FEBRUARY 6
Bundoora have officially lodged the transfer for Benjamin McNiece today. The defender was announced as a Bulls player by the club almost a month and will depart Northcote Park after 108 games.
McNiece spent three years on Essendon’s AFL list, playing 15 games, while also making 59 appearances for the Bombers’ VFL side between 2015 and 2019. A two-time Division 1 men’s Team of the Year defender, McNiece will be another handy inclusion inside the Bulls’ defensive 50.
The news gets better for Bundoora fans today after Shaun McKernan’s transfer from EDFL club Tullamarine was approved.
2022 Division 2 men’s Team of the Year member Sam Gleeson is looking to leave Coventry Oval after just one season, submitting a transfer to return to the Warrnambool & District Football Netball League.
Gleeson was arguably one recruits of the season across the competition. Kicking eight goals in 19 games and being named in his side’s best on nine occasions. The midfielder was one of his side’s best throughout their impressive finals run and his hard work was rewarded with a Team of the Year selection. He also finished second in the Division 2 men’s Coaches MVP Award.
Jack Bianchin has put through a transfer to join St Mary’s for the 2023 campaign. The 2015 Macleod premiership player made 141 appearances with the Roos which included a stint as a vice-captain. The defender returns to Whatmough Park after playing for the Burra as a junior.
After two years and 25 games for West Preston-Lakeside, Christopher McCabe is on the move, joining Division 1 rivals Hurstbridge.
This will be the former Northern Blues VFL player’s fifth senior NFNL club after spending time with Whittlesea (where he was a member of the club’s 2019 Division 2 men’s premiership), Panton Hill and Eltham.
FEBRUARY 4
Three-time premiership player Brendan Carlyon has announced his retirement according to the club today.
A legend at Bundoora, Carlyon played 228 senior games for the Bulls, playing in the club’s 2011, 2013 and 2017 premiership sides. A member of the leadership group for quite a number of years, Carlyon’s last game for the club came in their grand final defeat to Heidelberg last year.
Meanwhile, Eltham have lodged transfers for multiple recruits ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Former Montmorency captain Jesse Donaldson looks set to complete the switch to Eltham Central Park after 153 games with the Magpies.
A five-time Team of the Year member and a captain of the NFNL representative side, Donaldson will take on a playing-assistant role with the Panthers in 2023.
A massive boost to the Panthers’ ruck stocks will come through the transfer of Tom Goodwin after spending his last two seasons with Corowa-Rutherglen.
Goodwin has had a storied VFL career which included two seasons with Box Hill in 2013 and 2014 before spending four years with Coburg where he won the Lions’ best and fairest in 2016 and was named captain between 2017 and 2018. He also spent a year with Port Melbourne in 2019.
Cragieburn duo Corey Middleton and Nathan Perrone have also lodged transfers to Eltham Central Park ahead of the 2023 campaign. Middleton played 17 games for the EDFL outfit last year after playing 77 senior games with Epping. Perrone made 80 appearances for Cragieburn between 2017 and 2022.
FEBRUARY 3
Northcote Park today announced the signing of former Greensborough captain Chris Clark for the 2023 season.
Clark had been at the Boro since 2009 as a 16-year-old, he is a two-time under-19’s premiership player and is a member of the club’s 2014 Division 1 men’s triumph. An outstanding leader, this year will likely see Clark play his first game since Round 15, 2021.
The Cougars will be without winger Ricky Fandrich however, after he submitted a transfer to Wantirna South today. Fandrich kicked 120 goals in 94 games for the Cougars with 2022 being one of the 30-year-old’s best seasons at Bill Lawry Oval, being named in his side’s best in four of his 18 games while also kicking 23 goals including at least one major in his last ten games of the season.
Northern Bullants midfielder Jackson Barling is set to depart West Preston-Lakeside and join EDFL outfit Deer Park. Barling played 16 VFL games with the Bullants between 2021 and 2022 while also making 12 appearances with the Roosters in the same period, including the club’s two finals matches last year.
2022 Division 1 women’s Team of the Year ruck Bree Unthank has lodged a transfer to play for Coburg in the VAFA this year. The Greensborough tall enjoyed an impressive second season at Greensborough War Memorial Park, being named in her side’s best in 11 of her 14 games in 2022.
After lodging for his brother Jake yesterday, Mitchell Wild is also set to head to Hurstbridge. The 22-year-old played 20 games for Whittlesea throughout the last two years after stints at Diamond Creek and South Morang.
But after the transfer approval of Belinda Harris, the Bridges’ Sheridan Bennett is looking to join the VAFA also, this time to Coburg.
Bennett had an excellent 2022 campaign, kicking 14 goals in 17 games, being named in her side’s best in 14 of those matches and also earnt a Team of the Year selection on her way to claiming the best on ground medal in Hurstbridge’s premiership triumph last August.
Hurstbridge denied her transfer request to the VAFA side today.
Another who is on the move to Coburg is Julia Mcardle, who departs Darebin after two seasons.
Mcardle was named at half back in the 2022 Division 1 women’s Team of the Year and played 14 games for the Falcons in their grand final run last year. The 21-year-old also played two games with Darebin’s VFLW side in 2021.
Joshua Mazzarella will complete the move from Mernda to Thomastown after two years at the Demons. A Division 3 men’s Team of the Year member in 2021, Mazzarella moved into the forward line in last season, kicking 23 goals in just 10 games during an injury plagued campaign.
The Demons will also lose a key pillar of their women’s program after Natalie Todaro lodged a transfer to join Coburg.
Todaro won the 2021 Division 3 women’s best and fairest award and is also a three-time Division 3 women’s Team of the Year member. She played 52 games and kicked 12 during her four seasons with the club.
Macleod will be without duo Trent Warren and Jose Miliado after both lodging transfers today.
Warren is looking to join EDFL outfit Greenvale after 10 games with Macleod in 2022 while after two years and 26 games with the Roos, Miliado will head back to the Central Murray Football League to play with Swan Hill.
North Heidelberg’s Corey McKay has entered a transfer to join VAFA side Parkside. McKay made 43 senior appearances for the Bulldogs between 2017 and 2022, playing a career high 14 senior matches last year.
2022 Lalor best and fairest winner and leading goalkicker Dylan Cawsey is set to join Outer East side Yarra Junction Eagles. Cawsey played just 11 games in his one and only season with the Bloods but kicked nine majors and was named in his side’s best in all but one of those matches.
Jackson Bailey has lodged a transfer to join Epping following a one-year stint with AFL Sydney side Southern Power Plat. The tall previously played 20 senior games with Heathcote and also made four senior appearances for North Heidelberg in 2017.
FEBRUARY 2
Bundoora have added another former AFL player to their talented list after the club announced the signing of Shaun McKernan.
McKernan played 91 AFL games and kicked 74 goals for Adelaide, Essendon and St Kilda between 2009-2021. The forward comes to Yulong Reserve off an EDFL league best and fairest while playing for Tullamarine.
Macleod have begun lodging transfers for multiple star players, including Michael Hurley as well as Darcy and Billy Barden.
Macleod announced Hurley’s signing last year following his AFL retirement. After being selected at pick five in the 2008 draft, the defender played 194 games with Essendon between 2009 and 2022, making two All-Australian appearances.
Hurley returns to De Winton Park after playing with the club as a junior and in four senior games as a 16-year-old.
His availability for the Roos will be limited after also accepting a role as a development coach at the Bombers.
Reigning Division 2 men’s best and fairest Darcy Barden departs Lower Plenty after 153 games, 269 goals and two premierships at Montmorency Park.
The key position star won two league best and fairest’s and made seven appearances in the Team of the Year (five times in Division 2, twice in Division 1) while at the Bears.
Darcy’s brother Billy will join him at the Roos, with the move to mark his second stint at the club. Barden spent two years at Macleod between 2018 and 2019, making 16 senior appearances, including the Roos’ 2018 grand final defeat to West Preston-Lakeside.
Barden kicked 68 goals in 26 games during his last two years at the Bears.
Craig Hayes’ men are also on the verge of gaining duo Zac Hudson and Jack Lipscombe while Shane Doherty will come back to the Roos after spending the last 18 months at Parkside.
Hudson had a career best season with St Mary’s in 2022 with the ruckman playing all 18 games while also having an impact up forward by kicking eight majors.
23-year-old Lipscombe has spent the last two years at VFL level, playing 10 games for North Melbourne in 2022 and making five appearances for Aspley in 2021. The midfielder signed with Williamstown last October ahead of the 2023 VFL campaign.
Doherty played 20 games and kicked 24 majors for Parkside after transferring from the Roos midway through the 2021 season. The forward played 87 matches and kicked 87 goals for Macleod between 2013 and 2021.
Panton Hill are on the brink of confirming the transfers of Lower Plenty duo Tom Keys and Matt Duckworth.
Keys had an outstanding list of honours during his 10-year span at the Bears, including a Division 2 men’s premiership in 2018, a league best and fairest in 2021, a club best and fairest and four Team of the Year selections.
He crosses to the Redbacks after 148 games and 174 goals with Lower Plenty. He kicked a season high 40 majors in 19 games in 2022.
This will be Duckworth’s second stint at A.E. Cracknell reserve after he kicked 22 goals in 15 games during his one season at the club in 2016. He’s made 162 appearances for the Bears.
Lin Jong’s transfer to EFNL side Mulgrave has been approved after one season with Montmorency.
The former Western Bulldogs midfielder made 12 appearances for the Magpies in an injury riddled year at Montmorency Park. He kicked 20 goals for the season, including six in his last three games for the club, but did miss his side’s preliminary final loss to Bundoora.
Northcote Park have today announced the signings of Damon Marcon from Epping and premiership player Brock McLennan.
This will be Marcon’s fourth club in a matter of seasons and he comes to Bill Lawry Oval off the back of 19 goals in 16 games for Epping. A 2018 Division 2 men’s Team of the Year forward, Marcon can also play a role in the Cougars’ midfield and will join Blues teammates Adrian Cirianni and James Tadd at the club in 2023.
McLennnan comes back to the club after taking a year off in 2022 and will add to his 153 game and 100 goal resume this season. The midfielder also represented the NFNL in 2014 and played all 22 games in Northcote Park’s 2012 premiership campaign.
Despite some handy additions to their squad, Division 1 men’s finalists Bundoora will have a group of players depart the club ahead of this year’s campaign.
Young ruckman Nathan Howard is making the move to Division 1 rivals Greensborough.
Howard played 20 matches for the Bulls last year and in his one and only appearance in the reserves, won the best on ground medallion in the club’s premiership triumph.
The move will help Greensborough’s ruck stocks and likely allow Thomas Brindley to spend some more time around the ground.
2017 premiership player Brenton Keating will make the switch to Diamond Creek. Keating has signed a two-year deal according to the club after 110 games each with Bundoora and Epping. He will be joined at Coventry Oval by 2022 reserves premiership teammate Jacob Maynes. The 23-year-old played 33 games across five years at the Bulls.
Another member of that Bulls reserves premiership in Brayden Callaway will also join a Division 2 club in 2022, with the 21-year-old signing on with Panton Hill.
Speaking of Callaway, Brayden’s brother Josh will also join him at the Redbacks in 2023. Callaway is one of four Greensborough players to lodge transfers today.
Part of the Boro’s 2014 premiership team, Callaway will depart Greensborough War Memorial Park after 16 years of both junior and senior football.
Jake Rowe will too make his way to the Redbacks after a 16-year span with the Boro. Rowe is a three-time reserves premiership player and more recently, a runner up in last year’s Division 1 reserves league best and fairest.
Billy Bedford is looking to suit up with Diamond Creek this season, ten years after last playing for the Creekers. The key defender spent his junior career at Coventry Oval and played 10 games for the senior side in 2014 before making 105 appearances for the Boro.
After 22 games with the Boro, Lanarose Piciorane will call St Mary’s home again. The 20-year-old played her junior football with the Burra and will look to strengthen their senior side after their first grand final appearance last year.
Despite some personnel departing Greensborough War Memorial Park, Saade Ghazi’s side will be boosted by some key players ahead of the 2023 campaign.
Coburg listed Harrison Androcano has chosen the Boro as his local club after playing with St Bernard’s in the VAFA. The midfielder played four VFL games for the Lions in 2022.
Joseph Ayton-Delaney also comes to the club from the VAFA. The 23-year-old played two VFL games with Williamstown in 2019 and was a member of Old Xavierans’ 2021 under-19’s premiership side.
Greensborough has also lodged the transfer for William O’Dwyer-Richards from the Goulburn Football League. He returns to the NFNL after representing the league at under-14 and under-15 level while also playing two senior games for Kilmore in 2021.
Jamie Smith arrives from Mulwala’s 2022 premiership side in the Murray Football League. The ruckman made 36 appearances with Hurstbridge between 2018 and 2021 and 15 appearances for Eltham between 2015 and 2016.
The Bridges themselves have submitted at least a trio of transfers, including Whittlesea duo Thomas Indian and Jake Wild as well as three-time Division 3 Team of the Year member Jake Richards.
17-year-old Indian made five senior appearances for Whittlesea in 2022 and was a member of the Eagles under-17 Blue premiership side, kicking 20 goals in 13 games. He also finished equal third in the league best and fairest this season. His senior teammate Jake Wild played 22 games for the Eagles throughout the last two seasons.
Richards departs Laurimar Reserve after 61 matches with the Power between 2017 and 2022. The defender was one of Laurimar’s most impactful players throughout his time at the club and was named in his side’s best in 15 of his 19 games in 2022, culminating with a club best and fairest award.
2019 Division 3 women’s league best and fairest winner Belinda Harris is on the move after signing with VAFA side Old Yarra Cobras.
Harris has been one of the most dominant players of the NFNL women’s competition since Hurstbridge’s women’s side first stepped onto the field in 2019. Harris made the Team of the Year in each of her three seasons with the Bridges and kicked 19 goals in 12 games on her way to claiming a Division 3 women’s premiership medallion with the club last year.
Jai Burns will have a third stint with the Fitzroy Stars after 23 senior games with Bundoora over the last two years.
Named in the best in his side’s grand final defeat last year, Burns will add to his 131-game tally with the Stars having last played with the club in 2019.
In other news on another day full of transfers:
• Hotak and Poshang Akram as well Riley Livingstone have all had their lodged transfers to Panton Hill denied. The Fitzroy Stars trio were set to head to A.E. Cracknell Reserve after submitting transfers on Wednesday but have had them knocked back at this stage.
• Diamond Creek duo Connor Lidgerwood and Hayden Wall will join Panton Hill’s long list of recruits in 2023. Lidgerwood finished equal third in under-17 Blue league best and fairest in 2022 while making two appearances in the Creekers under-19’s side. Wall was a solid contributor of Diamond Creek’s reserves grand final run this year, kicking 18 goals in 21 games.
• 2022 Division 3 women’s Team of the Year member Helena Katsios has submitted a transfer to sign with La Trobe University in the VAFA. She played 11 games with West Preston-Lakeside’s second side in 2022, being named in her side’s best on nine occasions.
• After 104 games with Kilmore (95 in the NFNL), Jaxson Kinnear will suit up for Romsey in the RDFNL in 2023. Kinnear is a two-time Division 3 Team of the Year member and had played 38 consecutive games for the Blues from Round 13, 2019.
• Former Mernda captain Anthony Bradford is looking to cross to Thomastown in 2023. The tough midfielder played 70 games for the Demons between 2016 and 2022.
FEBRUARY 1
After a longer wait than usual, the NFNL transfer period is now open. With a backlog on transfer requests, expect a lot of movement throughout the first few days.
Preliminary finalists Montmorency have added to their impressive list, with former Melbourne ruck Jake Spencer and Lower Plenty duo Ben Paterson and Corey Sleep lodging transfers to the Magpies.
Spencer spent 10 years at the Demons, playing 38 games between 2008-2017. The 33-year-old had played his last few seasons with EFNL outfit Doncaster, appearing in 20 games for the Sharks following stints in the NEAFL and VFL.
He’ll help create a powerful ruck combination with 2022 Magpies best and fairest and Team of the Year member Liam Wale-Buxton.
Paterson kicked 130 goals in 86 games for Lower Plenty, none more important than his dramatic goal on the siren in the 2018 Division 2 grand final to send the Bears into Division 1. He’ll come into the 2023 campaign after kicking 16 goals in 15 matches last year, being named in his side’s best on 10 occasions.
His premiership teammate in Sleep will also join him to the other side of Montmorency Park after 95 appearances with the Bears. Sleep too enjoyed a solid 2022 campaign, kicking a career high 29 majors in 20 matches, and averaging almost two goals a game in his last six matches.
The Magpies have also submitted a transfer for club great Daniel Keenan as a coach. The first man in NFNL history to play 400 senior games, Keenan played in 310 of those matches with Montmorency, the last of those being in 2017. Keenan is a two-time Frank Rosbrook Medallist, a two-time Montmorency best and fairest and former captain at the Magpies.
Despite the additions to Jonathan Manzoney’s side, Connor Dalgleish and Stephen McCallum look set to depart.
Dalgleish will head to Eaglehawk in the BFNL after 89 games with the Magpies, with the joint vice-captain playing all but one game in 2022.
Following a brilliant 103-game span with Montmorency, McCallum will ply his trade with EDFL team Tullamarine. He won the club’s 2016 best and fairest in just his second season after 46 matches with Williamstown in the VFL and was also an NFNL representative member in 2017 and 2019.
Old Eltham Collegians have proven to be the busiest club in the first day of the transfer period, with over 10 potential players set to call Eltham College home in 2023.
Coming off a reserves premiership with Eltham, Matthew Williamson will head to the Turtles as a playing-assistant coach. The forward/ruck played four seasons during his second stint for Panthers, reaching his 150th senior game in Round 16 last year. This will be the 34-year-old’s first appearance in Division 3 since 2011 when he was a member of South Morang’s 2011 premiership triumph.
The club announced the signing of Hugh Kavanagh on Christmas Eve last year, with the three-time Division 2 Team of the Year member making the move after 88 games with Diamond Creek. The half back flanker won the club’s 2014 best and fairest in his first year with the Creekers and was arguably his side’s best on ground during the club’s preliminary final defeat to Eltham in 2022.
Meanwhile at least five Epping players look likely to make the switch to Eltham College, headlined by Jackson Freebairn and Jaedyn Kearney.
Freebairn made 20 appearances for the Blues over the last two seasons after playing 81 matches for Lalor, where was captain for two years and was a member of the Bloods’ 2015 Division 2 grand final side.
Kearney has spent the last two seasons as Blues vice-captain and will depart Epping Recreation Reserve after over 300 club appearances.
North Heidelberg have also been in the thick of some early pending transfers as they aim to return to finals in 2023.
Former Coburg listed defender Brandon Bailey will depart the club after 66 matches with the Bulldogs. Bailey was an NFNL representative in both 2018 and 2019 and will return to Morwell in 2023, where he had previously played 48 senior games.
Joining Bailey at Morwell is forward Adam Branedler who’s second stint at the Bulldogs lasted just two seasons. The 2017 North Heidelberg premiership player kicked 20 majors in 16 games in 2022, including at least one goal in his first 11 games of the season.
Jack Mapleson is set to head to EDFL side Aberfeldie after 29 games with the Bulldogs. 2022 was the midfielder’s best season at Shelley Street, playing 16 matches and being named in his side’s best in seven of those games.
But in a boost for Jason Heatley’s side, the club have lodged transfers for Whittlesea duo Brody Bell and Curtis Brown. Bell arrives after 42 matches with the Eagles, playing all but one match in the last two seasons while former North Melbourne VFL listed player Brown will add to his 10-game tally with the club after just two matches with Whittlesea in 2022.
Speaking of returns, Michael Florance has entered a transfer to play at North Heidelberg for the first time since 2019. After stints at Diamond Creek and Hurstbridge, the 2017 premiership ruckman will join forces with Majak Daw in what looks to be a brilliant ruck combination.
Bundoora have submitted transfers for Hurstbridge captain Lachlan East and Bulls three-time premiership player Joseph Palazzolo.
East played 134 games for the Bridges between 2014 and 2022, with his illustrious career thus far including a premiership in 2016, three club best and fairest’s and a Team of the Year appearance on two occasions, including 2022.
Palazzolo returns to Yulong Reserve after 47 games and three seasons for East Keilor in the EDFL. The prolific midfielder played 167 games for the Bulls between 2009 and 2018 and was a member in Bundoora’s 2011, 2013 and 2017 premiership triumphs.
The reigning Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 premiers will have a huge hole to fill inside 50 after club leading goalkicker Josh Minogue has lodged a transfer to return to North Albury where he played 23 matches between 2014 and 2017.
Minogue made 56 appearances and kicked 113 goals across four seasons with the Tigers, kicking a career high 54 majors in Heidelberg’s premiership run last year, culminating with a Team of the Year selection.
Greensborough will enter the upcoming campaign without 2019 Frank Rosbrook Medallist Tom Bell and 2022 recruit Harvey Daniher.
The talented mid-forward kicked 68 goals in 44 games for the Boro and was one of the competition’s most dominant players during his three-season tenure in the league. Bell will join EFNL premier division outfit Doncaster East.
Daniher heads to the WRFL to join Parkside after just one season at Greensborough War Memorial Park. The forward kicked 15 goals in 12 games including four majors against Macleod on Good Friday.
Macleod captain Hamish Paynter has submitted a transfer to AFL Barwon side Drysdale, following an outstanding career with the Roos.
Crossing over from Heidelberg in 2009, Paynter played 187 games with the club, winning the club’s 2014 best and fairest and playing a starring role in Macleod’s 2015 flag.
Ahead of their return to MC Labour Division 2, South Morang have been quick to lodge transfers for Josh D’Intinosante, Gary & Beau Moorcroft, Lachlan Potter and James Traianou.
D’Intinosante returns to his junior club after just four games in two seasons with West Preston-Lakeside. The 2018 Brent Harvey (Northern Knights) best and fairest award winner has played 21 VFL games for Coburg in the same time span, kicking 23 majors.
Gary Moorcroft joins the Lions as a playing-assistant coach with the 46-year-old potentially set to play his first senior match since 2019 with Bundoora, a club in which he kicked 578 goals in 172 games. Gary’s son Beau will also transfer from the Bulls, having last played for their reserves side in 2021.
Potter will also make his way back to Mill Park Lakes Reserve where he played over 120 junior games with the club. The half back flanker has made 21 appearances with the Northern Knights during that time and more recently is coming off two terrific seasons with Watsonia in which he was a member of consecutive Team of the Year’s.
It will be the same story for James Traianou who after two years and three senior games with Macleod, will come back to the Lions and add to his two senior games for the club in 2019.
Heidelberg West has submitted a transfer request from Banyule’s Daniel Kelly. Kelly made 88 appearances for Bears from 2016-2022, winning the club best and fairest award in his first year at Beverley Road and playing in the club’s first senior premiership in 2017. He was named his side’s best in eight of his 20 games last year, playing every match except the grand final.
The Hawks have also submitted for Daniel Cookson from VAFA outfit Old Ivanhoe where he has spent the last four years. Cookson played 31 senior games for Heidelberg between 2012-2017 and was involved in the club’s reserves premiership triumph in 2016.
In other news on a busy opening day on the transfer table:
• Eltham premiership star Kate Cardamone is on the move to the VAFA, joining Old Yarra Cobras. Cardamone kicked 37 goals in 54 games for the Panthers and was named in the 2022 Division 2 Women’s Team of the Year.
• Travis Keating will be heading to Cragieburn after 91 NFNL senior men’s games for Bundoora and Epping. Keating is a 2012 premiership player with Epping and last year kicked 46 goals in 18 games for the Bulls’ reserves side on their way to a premiership.
• After a solid year at Eltham College, Mathew Crooks has lodged a transfer to Loddon Valley FL side Maiden Gully YCW Eagles. The ruck had a great campaign with the Turtles, being named in the best in five of his 12 matches and placing equal fifth in the Division 3 men’sleague best and fairest.
• In some welcome news for Epping, Ethan Gorski is looking to make his way to Epping Recreation Reserve after one season with Panton Hill. The former Whittlesea and Laurimar winger kicked 16 goals in 17 matches for the Redbacks in 2022.
• Djarran Murray-Jackson will return to his 2021 club Parkside after one season and 16 games with the Fitzroy Stars.
• Josh Plummer will return to football, signing on with Lalor for the 2023 campaign. Brother of Geelong AFLW star Brooke, Plummer previously played 12 under-19’s games for the Bulls.
