GREENSBOROUGH has bolstered its playing list for the 2016 season, signing former Carlton midfielder David Ellard and Coburg captain Nick Carnell.
The signings are a massive coup for the 2015 Division 1 runner-up, who last month lost the grand final to Macleod. The result denied the Boro from becoming the first NFL club in six years to win successive premierships.
Ellard played 63 AFL games for Carlton over eight seasons, including 10 matches this year.
The 26-year-old retired from AFL level following the Blues’ Round 23 loss to eventual premier Hawthorn.
He was recruited with pick No. 34 in the 2007 Rookie Draft and made his debut in Round 7, 2008 against West Coast.
He enjoyed a career-best season in 2011, playing 19 matches as the Blues progressed to the semi final.
Carnell, 28, is a former Greensborough junior and has spent the past 10 years with Coburg in the VFL, including the past seven as captain.
He played 168 games for the Lions and topped the club’s goal kicking four times. He was also named Coburg’s most courageous player on five occasions.
Greensborough president Russell Grubb said his club was delighted to have Ellard and Carnell on board for its 2016 campaign.
“To have both of these boys come to the club at this particular time is just fantastic,” Grubb told NFL.org.au.
“The whole place is really excited and hopefully we can be up there again next year.
“(Ellard’s) experience and leadership will be important. He’s obviously a very talented player and besides all that, and most importantly, he’s a really good human being.
“Like David, Nick just brings a wealth of leadership and is an outstanding person as well.”
Having also signed on to Channel 7’s VFL commentary team, Carnell has committed to playing at least 10 games with Greensborough next year.
Grubb also confirmed youngster Matthew Haynes had signed to play with the Boro in 2016 after spending the past two seasons with VFL outfit the Northern Blues.
The 21-year-old featured for Greensborough once in 2015, playing in the club’s four-point defeat at Eltham in Round 14.
He played three VFL games for the Blues over the past two seasons and a further 24 development league matches.
With its entire grand final playing list already re-signed for next season, Greensborough will commence pre-season training on November 16.
Ben Turner will continue as senior coach, while Mick Harford has joined as an assistant coach after crossing from Division 1 rival Heidelberg.
Former coach Robert Hyde has signed on as football director and junior liaison, while his brother Bryan will continue as fitness coach.
