We may still be five months away from the beginning of the 2023 Eastern Football Netball League season but there’s already been plenty of movement with clubs announcing some massive key signings.
The official transfer window opens on the first of February but here’s a look at some of the major recruitment announcements made from the clubs this week.
Doncaster
Declan Everett
Boosting their midfield, the Sharks have their first recruit from the off-season with the signing of Declan Everett. The young star played eight games with Beaconsfield in 2022 but has experience from multiple different leagues and states including the Ovens & Murray Football League and the Northern Territory Football League.
Still at a very young age, Everett gets his chance to play at a Premier division Eastern FNL club in 2023.
Doncaster East
Lachlan Waddell and Giorgio Varagiannis
Following the signing of Upper Ferntree Gully’s Luke Tynan, the Lions have continued to make moves in the off-season with two more new signings.
Lachlan Waddell has committed to Doncaster East in 2023, bringing across a wealth of VFL experience. With Zac Clarke moving to Perth next year, Waddell joins the club to fill that position in the ruck. The 203cm ruckman has a fantastic resume including best and fairest honours at Hamilton Football Club in 2021 and premierships with Oakleigh Chargers in 2014 and Port Melbourne in 2017.
Giorgio Varagiannis who is currently training with Carlton’s VFL side also signs with the club. He’s represented Vic Metro, played for the Oakleigh Chargers and most recently, the Caulfield Grammarians in the VAFA.
East Ringwood
Adam Swierzbiolek
The Roos have their first big named recruit ahead of their return to Premier Division footy. Adam Swierzbiolek, the 200cm ruckman returns to the East Ringwood Football Club for the first time since 2018. Since leaving the Roos, Swierzbiolek has played multiple seasons in the VFL for Coburg. A big signing for the reigning Premiers whose midfield will benefit with first use of the ball from the Coburg ruckman. He’s sure to work well alongside young Premiership ruckman Hannin Mundy who had a breakout year for the club.
Noble Park
Shane McDonald
Don’t expect the Reigning Premiers to drop off in 2023. The Bulls have recently announced their first big recruit over the off-season with MPNFL legend Shane McDonald committing to the club. McDonald is an eight-time club best and fairest winner and two-time league best and fairest champion. The new Bull moving from Bonbeach where current Bulls coach Steve Hughes had previously coached at.
Noble Park will be without club greats in Shayne Allan and Ziggie Alwyn who have hung up the boots. It’s a great time to bring in an experienced veteran to increase the club’s odds of back-to-back premierships. McDonald can be used up forward to fill the void or be used alongside the likes of Kyle Martin and Jackson Sketcher in the middle of the ground. Having played in four losing Grand Finals, the MPNFL great will be eyeing off a potential cup with Noble Park.
Norwood
Callum Searle
Norwood have already made a couple of key signings in recent weeks with the side preparing to bounce back in 2023 and rejoin the Premier Division Finals. They’ve announced another big recruit this week, welcoming Callum Searle to the club.
Searle is a midfielder/defender that has a very nice resume including a Victorian Metro Under 18, an Oakleigh Chargers midfielder and experience at VFL level playing for Port Melbourne and Southport Sharks. The club will be very excited to have him on the field next season as a defensive weapon that can run through the middle if required.
Despite losing Chandler Medalist Blake Pearson, the club are in good hands going into another season campaign.
Bayswater
Mitch Tsirtsikos
Bayswater have already locked in some of their young stars for the 2023 season but they’ve also managed to recruit Ferntree Gully’s Mitch Tsirtsikos. With 94 games of senior level experience at Ferntree Gully and Knox, Tsirtsikos will add plenty with his high skill level and ability to hit the scoreboard.
Croydon
Billy Batten
Another new signing for the Blues sees Billy Batten wearing the navy blue in season 2023. Batten has played 27 senior games with Mooroolbark and joins fellow Mustang teammates Dermot Reynolds and Bailey D’Monte over to the Blues. The club will have a bit of flexibility around him to let him run in the middle or push forward and give the side another scoring option. Croydon’s forward line this year was an area for improvement and the club have certainly looked at strengthening that area of the ground thus far.
Mitcham
Byron Wright and Kieren West
One of the busier clubs in the early months of the off-season, the Tigers have grabbed a couple more recruits for the 2023 season. Their forward line has been given a big boost with the addition of Black Rock’s Byron Wright. He had an outstanding year in 2022, kicking 60 goals while playing some time in the midfield. Wright took home the SFNL Division Three Best and Fairest in a premiership year where he was also best on ground Grand Final Day.
Norwood’s Kieren West is also on the move to Mitcham. The young midfielder played 13 games at senior level this year and has won multiple club Best and Fairest’s throughout his junior career and Under 19s. He’ll join his brother Jarrod at the Tigers and add further depth to an already talented midfield.
North Ringwood
Ben Livingstone
Ben Livingstone joins the Saints in 2023, the nephew of a famous club member, Team of the Century Captain, Tim Livingstone. After playing juniors with East Ringwood, Livingstone has won a League B&F while playing for the Aquinas Under 19s.
Wantirna South
Sean Young
Another former Devil returns to the club with Sean Young back in the Green and White for the first time in four years. Since his last season with the Devils in 2019, Young has spent time at Boronia, playing alongside Taylor Leggate who also returns home to Wantirna South next season. Young is a 111 senior game premiership player with the Devils and was a part of the Team of the Decade and a Senior premiership player. A big-bodied key defender who’s a very strong one on one player, Wantirna South fans will be wrapped to have Young back on the list.
Knox
Aaron Taylor
After one season at Scoresby, Aaron Taylor returns to the Fort in 2023. Taylor played an important role at the Magpies this year, playing 16 games and kicking 17 goals. The 20-year-old played a handful of games in Knox’s senior side in 2019 while also dominating at the Under 19 level. A great pick up for the club who will be hoping to have quite a few more wins on the board next season.
Ringwood
Caleb Knight
Young midfielder Caleb Knight returns to the Redbacks for the 2023 season. A member of the Under 19s team in 2021, Knight featured in the side’s best five times from seven games, finishing in the top three of Ringwood’s best and fairest. His had a great junior career at Norwood, even playing in the Premier Division Under 19s there in 2019.
Templestowe
Jarrod Healy, Doug Wootton and Josh Warren
More key signings for the Dockers who have brought in some extra expience as they chase a spot in the Division Two Finals. The club have picked up more talent from Lilydale with Jarrod Healy and Doug Wootton. Healy recently played at Rowville over the last couple of seasons but has played most of his senior career at Lilydale alongside Wootton and Beau Mitchener who the Dockers have also recruited this off-season. Healy has further experience playing Eastern Ranges and Port Melbourne in the VFL, increasing the club’s premiership credentials going forward.
Further Premier Division experience is added to the list with Josh Warren also announced to join the Dockers in 2023. At just 19, Warren has played a handful of games for the Doncaster East seniors while also winning the club’s Best and Fairest in the Under 19s. Warren is a high-quality midfielder that can push forward when needed.
Coldstream
Josh Gray, Bailey Gray and Austin White
Brothers Josh and Bailey Gray are set to join the Cougars next season, moving from the Woori Yallock Football Club. Josh will add a bit of pace on the wing and help the clubs outside run. Also, with the ability to play on the wing, Bailey has played plenty of football off the half-back line. He’ll create plenty of run off the half back if he’s used there.
Coldstream also welcome back Austin White who started his junior career with the Cougars. He’s been a part of the Lilydale Juniuor and Senior Football Clubs since 2015, playing five games in the Division One senior side.
The club are in a great position after a positive first season in Division Three, making the Finals series this year.
Fairpark
Jason Want and Josh Allison
A big announcement from the Lions. Jason Want, a past captain of the club and a two-time Senior Best and Fairest Winner is set to re-join Fairpark in season 2023. Want was last part of the Lions back in 2016 before he joined South Croydon in 2017. The experienced veteran has played 50 senior games at Premier Division and is sure to add quite a lot to the club with his work rate and defensive capabilities.
The club have also announced today the signing of Josh Allison, set to join Fairpark as a playing assistant coach. Allison has played over 150 senior career games across three clubs, South Croydon, Boronia and East Ringwood. He was a part of this year’s Roos side, playing 14 games during the season with the eventual Division One Premiers. A great inclusion for the midfield as well as the coaching staff with his leadership and football smarts.
Chirnside Park
Jayden Battaglene
The first recruit for the Panthers ahead of the 2023 season, Jayden Battaglene heads to Chirnside Park. Battaglene is familiar with Chirnside, winning a Best and Fairest with the Panthers back in 2015. The midfielder/forward has played most of his football at East Ringwood, playing 53 senior games there.
Scoresby
Brayden Hunt
Another recruit for the Magpies with the club announcing this week that Thorpdale Football Club’s 2022 leading goalkicker Brayden Hunt, will wear the black and white in the EFNL next year. Hunt finished in the top five of the club’s best and fairest in 2022 and will be a great addition to the Scoresby’s forward line.
