We were actually pretty stiff this year.
For the first time in donkey’s years we were actually prepared ahead of time and put together a decent squad only for the coach to die and to cop the cascading effect of one of the worst injury lists in recent memory.
Check the day before the VFL season starts.
Preston has been kicked out of the VFL.
No further news on Darebin in the VFLW. But with Tassie in, we need another change (Richmond to want back in to support their women? Surely not) to avoid byes.
They need to move to a national reserves comp
Will Hoare signed with Coburg for next season as per Coburg’s Twitter.
The lack of info on signings for the EFC VFL team has me concerned that we have fallen back into bad habits.
Meanwhile, 20 re-signings announced for the VFLW team…
I really hope this isn’t the case. Going by last year, it was mid-Nov when we started announcing re-signings, then more in Dec, so hopefully we’re still on top of it all.
I honestly don’t know how other clubs operate but I know that in the SANFL most clubs have already announced multiple signings weeks ago and try to have their list sorted by mid November. I think they try and pounce on the delisted ones straight away before other leagues join the fray
I’m pretty sure we have already re-signed a number of players (just not announced). I assume we wanted to give the Women’s programs some air time and now that they are finished we will see some announcements soon.
Lachie McDonnell’s best-and-fairest season with Noble Park has put him not only on the Bulls’ honour board, but in the sights of a VFL club.
Essendon is keen to recruit Noble’s vice-captain and 2022 premiership player, with coach Cameron Joyce making contact with McDonnell.
The right-footer has had two previous stints in the VFL, with Frankston in 2019 and Collingwood in 2021-22.
McDonnell was a key player in the Dandenong Stingrays’ TAC Cup premiership – the Rays’ first flag – in 2018 and attended the state combine in the same year.
He has established himself as one of the Eastern league’s best running players in the past three years.
The Bombers have landed leading Ovens and Murray defender Jace McQuade, who was part of Greater Western Sydney’s Albury VFL hub this year and was called up to play three games.
McQuade featured in Wangaratta Rovers’ 2024 senior premiership.
When he linked with GWS, the Giants said McQuade had spent time training with Carlton VFL and “over the last couple of years has starred while restricting some of the best key forwards in the Ovens and Murray competition’’.
He was named in a back pocket in this year’s Ovens and Murray team of the year.
But the Bombers have lost Jordan Busuttil, who played a dozen games this year, to the busy Werribee.
Busuttil is a two-time best and fairest at Williamstown CYMS in the VAFA.
Personally, I don’t think VFL signings are taking air time away from the AFLW team.
I think it’s more likely that key signings aren’t committing to the team at this point in time. Any ex-AFL player would be more focussed on getting a chance via SSP. Anyone else might be ‘agreeing to terms’ but waiting until the draft is finished just incase there is the small chance that they get drafted then.
I do think there have been signings, but they wouldn’t be major signings. Most of the announcements would be ex-AFL listed players. I’m not sure if there is a formal announcement when other players sign or re-sign. I don’t imagine someone like Cam Nyko would be announced.
if we lost Matt Foley, after losing Will Hoare, I would be bitterly disappointed
Lost a couple to Coburg.
Jordan Busutill off to Weribee as well, Oskar Smartt off to WA
Hope Welshy has a few rabbits in his hat.
Can’t have the VFL side being a total mess
Both gun people too, the type that bring VFL playing groups together.
Foles is a real talent with another level not yet seen IMO. Needs more opportunity.
Sigh, it’s happening again isn’t it… late recruiting and therefore a poor VFL program.
