EPPING coach Steve Power says the club is disappointed to have lost out in the race for former AFL player Justin Murphy.
The Blues had expected Murphy to spearhead their Northern Football League Division 2 campaign in an on-field mentoring role this year, but he will instead link up with Eastern Football League club Knox.
Epping had hoped Murphy would work closely with its younger players, fast-tracking their development.
NFL Division 1 club Heidelberg has granted Murphy’s clearance request to join Knox, which finished 10th in EFL Division 1 last season.
Murphy played 185 games during a 12-year AFL career, including 115 over two stints at Carlton.
Despite missing out on Murphy, the Blues have added Kinglake key defender Michael Robertson and are on the cusp of signing another tall.
Utility Aaron Willitts has also returned to the club after missing 2013.
Power said Willitts could be unleashed in a variety of roles.
“He can play pretty much everywhere, he can play key forward,” he said.
“We’re probably going to utilise him around the ground a bit more, he’s a physical bloke and has the experience to help our young kids.”
Power said it had been inevitable the club would lose players following its relegation from Division 1.
But the first-year coach said he was confident the group Epping had assembled would be one of the stronger sides in Division 2.
The club has lost Luke Lirosi and Harley Nancarrow to West Preston-Lakeside, while Les Adams has left for Division 2 rival Mernda.
This article is courtesy of Leader Newspaper.
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