SO MUCH has happened since Casey Demons downed Southport to win the 2022 Smithy's VFL premiership back in September, with players coming and going across the league, while there have also been plenty of moves in the coaching ranks. Let's bring everyone up to date as we draw closer to the 2023 season. Some of this information is reported and yet to be confirmed by the clubs involved.
LEAGUE
A Wildcard round will be introduced into the VFL in 2023. The decision will mean a 10-team finals series, up from eight, with the seventh-ranked team to play 10th and eight to meet ninth in the first week of the finals, with the two winners going on to fill the traditional top eight. The season will start on the last weekend in March with teams again playing 18 matches in 22 rounds and the Grand Final set down for September 24.
The first big shock of the off-season came out of Box Hill City Oval with Clint Proctor standing down as coach after just one year in the job. Proctor led the Hawks to the elimination final, but with a Hawthorn restructure making the Box Hill Hawks coaching role a full-time position his personal and professional commitments made it impossible for him to continue.
*****
Surprise Hawthorn delistings Jack Saunders and Jackson Callow won’t remain in the VFL, but will again be teammates after returning to SANFL club Norwood. Saunders, 20, kicked 11.16 in 16 matches last year (13.8 disposals, 4.3 marks) for a total of 18 goals in 24 outings and Callow, 20, played booted 17.13 in 16 matches (11.1 possessions, 4.6 marks) for 23 goals in 20 games.
*****
Former Fremantle player Brady Grey has returned to the west after one season at Box Hill City Oval to take up an assistant coaching role at the Dockers. Grey, 27, arrived after 21 AFL matches for the Dockers, two Tasmanian State League games for Burnie and 88 WAFL appearances for Peel Thunder, West Coast and Perth. He played 15 times for the Hawks, averaging 13.9 disposals and kicking eight goals.
*****
Young ruckman Dave Brinker-Ritchie has departed the Hawks after his debut year, signing with SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens. Brinker-Ritchie, 19, from Traralgon, played 11 matches and averaged 7.4 disposals and 23.9 hitouts.
*****
Box Hill Hawks have announced Zane Littlejohn as their new coach. Littlejohn, 36, arrives after spending six years as a development coach and Academy coach at the Brisbane Lions. He also coached North Launceston to back-to-back Tasmanian State League premierships. The club also confirmed its coaching panel underneath him with David Mackay having been promoted to Hawthorn.
*****
The younger Beasley has crossed from Box Hill City Oval to Piranha Park in search of senior opportunities. Charlie Beasley, 22, will be at his third VFL club after also playing for Port Melbourne, having split from his brother, Hawks captain Hugh. He played four matches for Box Hill last year for a total of 14.
*****
Former AFL player Jordan Cunico has left the VFL one match shy of his 50-game milestone. Cunico, 26, who played 15 AFL matches for Geelong in 2017-18, lined up in 13 matches for Box Hill last year, averaging 19.3 disposals, finishing with 49 games and 21 goals between the Cats and Hawks. He has returned home to Traralgon full-time.
*****
Running defender Mason de Wit broke through for his best season at VFL level last year, but that’s where it has ended after he signed with Mornington Peninsula-Nepean league club Somerville. De Wit, 24, played a career-high 15 matches for the Hawks last year and averaged 17.7 disposals, 4.1 marks and 4.9 rebounds. He recorded a total of 37 games for the Hawks, Frankston and Essendon.
*****
Fergus Greene has earned himself a second chance at AFL level after his dominant 2022 season for Box Hill Hawks, being promoted by Hawthorn as a delisted free agent. Sharpshooter Greene, 24, who played five AFL games for Western Bulldogs in 2018, piled on 53.21 in 17 games for the VFL Hawks to finish second in the Frosty Miller Medal and has now kicked 83.35 in 26 games at Box Hill City Oval.
*****
Hawks’ best-and-fairest winner Cal Porter will be back at Box Hill this year – if he doesn’t follow Fergus Greene onto Hawthorn’s AFL list, where he is training for a Supplementary Selection Period contract. Porter, 23, played all 19 games last year and averaged career highs in disposals (22.7), marks (4.2), clearances (6.1) and inside-50s (4.3), plus 5.1 tackles. He now has 60 VFL appearances for the Hawks and Footscray.
*****
Another important Hawk has re-signed, with Stu Horner committing to the club. Horner, 25, added 15 matches this year for a total of 40, averaging a career-best 14.9 disposals.
*****
The Hawks have boosted their key defensive stocks with the signing of centre half-back Ben De Bolfo from Northern Bullants. De Bolfo, 20, played 17 games for the Ants in his debut VFL season, averaging 10.4 disposals, 4.3 marks and 3.4 rebounds and will leave another huge hole at Preston City Oval.
*****
Rookies Mitchell Sruk, Lachie Wynd, Liam Coghlan and Jake Arundell have committed their futures to the Hawks. Doncaster’s Coghlan, 21, managed six appearances in his debut Smithy’s VFL season, while Rowville trio Sruk, 20, Wynd, 21, and Arundell, 20, played four, three and two games respectively and kicked one goal each.
*****
While Charlie Beasley moved on chasing opportunity, there’s nothing to worry about with his captain brother Hugh Beasley, who is staying at Box Hill City Oval. The older Beasley, 27, played 13 matches last year for a total of 61 (also Richmond and Port Melbourne) as well as 17 NEAFL games for Brisbane Lions. Last year he averaged VFL bests in disposals (16.9) and marks (4.9).
*****
Improving Carlton midfielder Joel Trudgeon has made the move to Box Hill Hawks after a breakout season with the Blues. Trudgeon, 20, played 18 of his 20 VFL matches last year, averaging 21.1 disposals (including 11.6 contested), 4.8 clearances and 7.4 tackles.
*****
Box Hill landed its biggest signing of the off-season so far by luring Patrick Naish to the club. Naish, 23, played 44 VFL games for Richmond before spending last year with West Coast. Overall, he has played 20 AFL matches for the Tigers and Eagles, including 11 last year (averaging 16.7 disposals).
*****
Callum Brown’s surprise delisting by Collingwood has been a win for Box Hill Hawks, with the important midfielder wearing brown and gold in 2023. Son of a gun Brown, 24, played 13 VFL games last year, averaging 26.4 disposals, 4.4 clearances and 5.6 tackles. He arrives at the Hawks with 70 AFL and 38 VFL games.
*****
Rookies Max Hall, Luis D’Angelo and Max Walton have committed to the Hawks again. Hall, 20, from Montrose and Eastern Ranges, lined up eight games in his debut year, averaging 13 disposals and kicking six goals. Traralgon and Gippsland Power product D’Angelo, 20, played four games for 14.3 disposals and Walton, 19, from Phillip Island, played eight times for the Hawks, averaging 13.3 touches, and added nine for the Power for 22.4 possessions and four rebounds.
*****
The younger Phillips brother will still be a Hawk after Ed Phillips re-signed for 2023. Former Saint/Zebra Phillips, 24, played 18 games last year (five goals) for a total of 59, averaging 18.7 disposals and 5.2 marks.
*****
The Hawks have landed a quality youngster with Kai Windsor committing to Box Hill City Oval. Windsor, 18, from Lysterfield, played 11 games last season for Eastern Ranges, averaging 18 disposals and four marks and kicking seven goals. He also made his debut for the Hawks, playing two VFL games and booting four majors.
*****
A shattering blow for the Hawks, with confirmation long-kicking star midfielder James Parsons will miss most, if not all, of the 2023 season after having a knee reconstruction. Parsons, 25, played 14 games last year but went down with the injury in the Round 17 clash against Werribee. He averaged 18.6 disposals and 5.2 clearances and kicked 15 goals. He will still be around the club in a coaching capacity in 2023 while also joining Southern league club Park Orchards as an assistant coach. He hopes to return late in the year. Parsons has played 65 VFL games for the Hawks, Carlton and Geelong – including a Team of the Year selection – as well as 35 AFL matches for the Cats from 2017-19.
*****
Possibly the biggest re-signing for Box Hill Hawks, with matchwinner Ben Cavarra staying on. Cavarra, 27, kicked 41.19 in 18 matches to have a total of 183 majors in 130 games for the Hawks, Footscray, Williamstown and Frankston. His skill was a key reason the Hawks made the finals last year, and he has the most dangerous 15.1-disposal average in VFL football.
*****
Two youngsters have been rewarded for their trial efforts with VFL contracts for 2023. Ethan Stanley and Lachie Bryce impressed enough during pre-season training to earn themselves an early Christmas present.
*****
Mason Hawkins has departed the Hawks after one season, signing with Sandringham. 200cm prospect Hawkins, 20, made his VFL debut for Box Hill Hawks in Round 14 after playing for Gippsland Power in 2021, with that being his only appearance.
*****
NORTHERN Bullants have lured a Hawks youngster back the other way from Ben de Bolfo, according to Albury-Wodonga’s The Border Mail. Will Sexton, 19, the younger brother of now former Richmond VFL and Yarrawonga player Jack, is set to take the chase for his own VFL debut to Preston City Oval. Will played six NAB League games for Oakleigh Chargers last year (total 10), averaging 20.5 disposals, 5.0 marks, 3.3 clearances and 3.5 inside-50s.
*****
MORWELL youngster Tristan Waack is pushing hard for a contract at Box Hill City Oval, according to Code Sports’ Paul Amy. Waack, 20, played eight NAB League games for Gippsland Power in 2021, but after a year back in Gippsland has been impressing at Hawks’ training.
*****
A COUPLE of NAB League graduates will take their next steps at Box Hill, with Clay Tucker and Liam Serong joining the Hawks, according to Code Sports. 204cm Scoresby ruckman Tucker, 18, played 11 NAB League matches for Eastern Ranges last year, averaging 20.1 hitouts and 7.5 disposals. Warragul’s Serong, 18, trained with his older brother Caleb at Fremantle over the off-season before joining another brother in Hawthorn-listed Jai at the Hawks. He played two matches for Gippsland Power in 2022.
*****
THE Hawks have named an impressive leadership group representing three-quarters of last year’s line-up. Hugh Beasley returns as captain for a second season, with best-and-fairest winner Cal Porter rising to join Stu Horner as vice-captains
*****
HEARTBREAKING news out of the Hawks, with gun forward Ben Cavarra and key defensive recruit Ben de Bolfo ruled out for the season after suffering ACL injuries at training. Cavarra, 27, is one of the best players and most experienced players in the VFL, having played 130 games for the Hawks, Footscray, Williamstown and Frankston. He finished third in the Frosty Miller Medal last year. De Bolfo, 20, crossed from Northern Bullants, where he played 17 times in his debut year and averaged 10.4 disposals and 4.3 marks.
The Lions already have a young star in No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner, but now they are looking at a second after signing his older brother Lockie to their VFL list for this season. Lockie Rayner, 25, was on Essendon’s VFL list last year, playing two matches, but starred for Essendon league club East Keilor to grab the Lions’ attention.
*****
The development of two VFL Lions has led to them being promoted. Darryl McDowell-White, the son of triple premiership great Darryl White, and Academy graduate Shadeau Brain are now Lions Category B Rookies. McDowell-White, 25, played four VFL games last year, averaging 9.5 disposals, but really came under notice with two stunning goals in the semi-final win over Carlton. Brain, 18, averaged 10 disposals in his three matches.
*****
The Lions have a new VFL coach with former AFL ruckman Ben Hudson taking over from dual NEAFL premiership mentor Mitch Hahn. Hahn, 41, who played 181 AFL games for Western Bulldogs from 2000-10, had led the Lions reserves since 2014, making him the longest-serving coach at the level, winning the flag in 2017 and 2019 and lifting a young and inexperienced team from a bottom-four finish in 2021 to a first VFL preliminary final in 2022. Hahn has been named coach of the Lions Academy Boys. Hudson, 43, who will also remain as the club’s ruck coach, played 168 AFL matches for Adelaide, the Bulldogs, Lions and Collingwood from 2004-13.
*****
Williamstown has lured two Lions to Victoria this year, with Morningside pair Toby Triffett and Nathan Colenso making the move south. A Lions Academy graduate, Triffett, 20, played 17 matches for the preliminary finalists for a total of 26, averaging 15 disposals and nearly six tackles and kicking nine goals, while Colenso will move to his third club in search of a VFL debut after not breaking through at either the Lions or Southport.
*****
Known for big hair and big marking, Riley Greene is continuing at the Lions. Greene, 21, played five games last year and averaged eight disposals.
*****
Young Academy graduate Charlie Bowes has headed south, signing with Port Melbourne for this year. Defender Bowes, 20, played 10 games last year (11.7 disposals, 4.2 marks, 3.1 rebounds) for a total of 17.
*****
The Lions picked up Josh Dunkley during the NAB AFL Trade Period and they could also have his brother, with Code Sports’ Dan Cherny reporting that Kyle Dunkley is in talks to join their VFL squad. Kyle, 22, played nine games in the first half of last year for Northern Bullants, averaging 15.8 disposals, 4.1 marks, 4.7 inside-50s and 4.6 tackles before playing out the season at Sorrento. He has 23 State league games for Sydney, Casey, Essendon, Footscray and the Bullants.
*****
Williamstown trumpeted the huge signing of Frankston star Mitch Cox 12 months ago before he was picked up by the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Supplementary Selection Period. But after was surprisingly delisted following just one season in Queensland, he will finally line up for the Seagulls in 2023. Cox, 25, played 17 VFL games for the Lions for a total of 43, averaging 19.5 disposals and 4.9 marks while kicking six goals.
*****
The Lions have added Wilston Grange leading goalkicker Zack Derksen to their list. Derksen kicked 25 goals in 15 games in his first QAFL season for the Gorillas.
*****
Southport has landed the signature of Brisbane Lions fringe player Charlton Offermans. Labrador product and Suns Academy graduate Offermans, 24, played two games last year for a total of 11 State league appearances.
*****
Midfielder Ely Smith has signed with SANFL club South Adelaide after losing his place at the Lions. Smith, 22, played 16 VFL matches last year, averaging 20.1 disposals, and leaves the Gabba with 35 games to his name.
*****
Key position player Connor McFadyen will play for SANFL outfit Sturt after being delisted. Lions Academy graduate McFadyen, 22, played 20 VFL matches last year for a total of 51, averaging 15.9 disposals and 5.7 marks.
*****
THE Lions have officially revealed their Smithy’s VFL list of 10 players, headed by the return of captain Wylie Buzza and the arrival of fellow former AFL player Kyle Dunkley. Cam Rayner’s older brother Lockie Rayner has been finally confirmed as an arrival, as has QAFL key forward Zack Derksen. Tahj Abberley, Harry Arnold, Riley Greene, Wilson Barry, Jackson Hille and Bruce Reville round out the list, with other available positions expected to be filled by Lions Academy players. Here are the details of the 10:
Carlton coach Dan O’Keefe stood down following the Blues’ largely successful second season out of its alignment era. Carlton reached the semi-finals, going down narrowly to the Brisbane Lions in Queensland and the club was disappointed to lose the popular O’Keefe, who has relocated to Warrnambool for family reasons.
*****
The Blues have appointed an AFL legend to replace O’Keefe as VFL coach, with triple premiership Brisbane Lion Luke Power taking the reins. Power is the head of development at the Blues and will be perfectly placed to continue that role with his added responsibilities.
*****
Carlton took Will Hayes from its VFL list in the mid-season draft and he played two AFL games for the Blues. But it strangely wasn’t enough for them to retain the former Western Bulldogs/Footscray midfielder. Ball magnet Hayes, 27, who juggled working in his family’s horse racing empire with his AFL dream, finished with 13 VFL games for the Blues and a total of 110 matches and 70 goals at the State league level. He has returned home to Goulburn Valley club Euroa as he sharpens his focus on the track.
*****
Carlton’s VFL program has suffered a significant blow with talented defender Stefan Radovanovic opting to play local football. Radovanovic, 22, played 19 games (averaging 15.3 disposals and 4.8 marks) for the Blues last year for a total of 27, but will be a Keilor player full-time in the Essendon league. He finished fourth in Carlton’s 2021 VFL best-and-fairest.
*****
Toby Wooller won’t return to Carlton’s VFL team in 2023 after signing for Goulburn Valley league club Kyabram, the team his famous grandfather Fred coached to a premiership in the 1970s. Toby, 23, played 29 NEAFL matches in two years at the Brisbane Lions in 2018-19 and added eight for the Blues in 2021, finishing third in their best-and-fairest in 2021 before missing last season with injury. Fred played 132 games for Geelong from 1956-64, captaining its 1963 premiership and winning three leading goalkicker awards and a best-and-fairest.
*****
North Launceston product Ollie Sanders has departed Ikon Park after just one season, signing with SANFL club Norwood. Sanders, 20, who played two VFL games for North Melbourne in 2021, added six more for the Blues and kicked six goals.
*****
Code Sports has linked delisted AFL player Ben Ronke (Sydney) to Carlton’s VFL team if he is not thrown a lifeline in the Supplementary Selection Period. Ronke, 24, kicked 30.13 in 14 VFL games for the Swans last year, spliced in with eight AFL appearances for six goals. He played 44 AFL and 46 State league games for Sydney.
*****
Carlton VFL rookie Zane Barzen has traded the navy blue of Carlton for the red of former alignment partner Northern Bullants, it has been reported. Barzen, 22, is a key defender from Northern league club Heidelberg who played four VFL matches for the Blues last season.
*****
Young ruckman Aaron Gundry has gone searching for opportunity, moving up Sydney Rd to Coburg for 2023. The 201cm Gundry, 21, didn’t get a run for Carlton last year as Alex Mirkov came on quickly and has played just two VFL games, but will certainly get more chances at Piranha Park.
*****
Patrick Cripps won the Brownlow Medal, but his younger brother Josh has decided to head home, returning to WAFL club East Fremantle. Josh Cripps, 20, played 12 VFL matches for the Blues in his only year, averaging 8.8 disposals and kicking eight goals.
*****
Carlton’s two leading goalkickers will be back, with Ben Crocker and Ned Cahill re-signing at Ikon Park. Crocker, 25, averaged 13.5 disposals and 5.5 marks and kicked 38.35 in 19 games last year and has 116 in 69 VFL games for Carlton and Collingwood. Cahill, 22, joined the Blues last year after being delisted by Essendon, lining up 19 times for 14.6 disposals and 4.9 marks while kicking 29.20 for a total of 28 matches and 33 goals.
*****
The best indication a club is a great place to be comes when a player decides to stay despite being delisted. That has happened at Carlton, with Luke Parks committing to the VFL squad even though he lost his AFL place. Swans Academy graduate Parks, 21, battled injury in his two AFL seasons, playing three games last year for a total of seven, and he also has 11 NEAFL games behind him.
*****
The Blues have locked away two important pillars of their back six, with Alex Cincotta and Tyreece Leiu re-signing. Cincotta, 26, swapped from Geelong and played 20 of his 21 games, averaging 21 touches, 3.3 inside-50s and 3.2 rebounds, while Leiu, 19, played 12 matches (total 13) after crossing from North Melbourne, averaging 11.9 disposals and 4.4 marks.
*****
Carlton has secured four more members of its young up-and-coming cohort, with Zavier Maher, Michael Lewis, Mitch Moschetti and Heath Ramshaw back at Ikon Park. Maher, 20, played 18 matches last year (total 19), averaging 16.5 disposals, 4.1 tackles and 3.1 inside-50s and kicking 11 goals. Lewis, 20, lined up 15 times in defence for 10.1 disposals in his debut year. Moschetti, 19, impressed so much when called in as a top-up from Gippsland Power that he put together seven matches at 12.6 disposals and 3.7 tackles while kicking five goals. His nine NAB League games yielded 24.8 touches, 6.8 tackles, 6.1 clearances and 4.2 inside-50s per game, plus another five majors. Ramshaw, 20, played four games in his debut year, picking up 18 disposals per game.
*****
Fringe ruckman Luke Goetz has headed to Ballarat league club Bacchus Marsh. Goetz, 25, played two games in 2022 for a total of 13.
*****
Echuca big man Jed Brereton has landed a VFL contract with Carlton, according to State league newshound Ultimate Ressie. 200cm ruckman Brereton, 19, played 10 games for the Bendigo Pioneers last year, averaging 10.6 disposals and 9.6 hitouts.
*****
Blues captain Jesse Glass-McCasker has returned home to WAFL club Swan Districts for a second time. Glass-McCasker, 26, who joined Carlton with the No.1 pick in the AFL Rookie Draft in 2015, played 57 VFL games in two stints with the Blues, plus 10 for Footscray in 2021. He also lined up 17 times for the WAFL Swans in 2019. He led Carlton to a VFL semi-final this year as a forward and back-up ruckman, kicking 12 goals and averaging eight hitouts in 18 matches.
*****
Carlton has landed the signature of delisted Collingwood defender Liam McMahon, 20, who played 19 games for the Magpies last year (total 26), averaging 15.4 disposals, 5.1 marks and 5.8 rebounds without making his AFL debut.
*****
Jack Newnes will not play in the VFL again after losing his spot on Carlton’s AFL list. Newnes, 29, played three VFL games for the Blues last year for a total of 13, averaging 31 disposals, 7.7 marks and 4.7 inside-50s. He has signed for Northern league team Greensborough.
*****
The Blues have lost fast-developing midfielder David Handley to Werribee. Handley, 23, played 14 of his 16 matches for Carlton last year, averaging 19 disposals and 4.4 tackles, including a best-on-ground 35-possession explosion against GWS in Round 18.
*****
CARLTON has finally landed the prized signature of former Sydney goalkicker Ben Ronke. Ronke, 25, who famously kicked seven goals against Hawthorn in his second AFL match, played 14 VFL games for the Swans last season, averaging 17.1 disposals and 4.9 marks while banging on 30 goals and only 13 behinds.
*****
FORMER Fremantle AFL player Tom North has departed the Blues, returning to the west to play for WAFL club East Perth on a two-year deal. North played 11 matches for Carlton last year for a total of 20.
*****
CARLTON’s VFL program has received a major boost with the Blues promoting Alex Cincotta to their AFL list. Cincotta, 26, had only played one VFL game before last year but exploded with an average of 21 disposals in 20 matches, finishing second in Carlton’s VFL best-and-fairest.
*****
SOUTHPORT has lured another one north, with Carlton VFL captain Matt Shannon landing at Fankhauser Reserve. Shannon, 25, played four games for the Blues last year for a total of 14, averaging 11.5 possessions.
*****
BLUES star Ben Crocker has been named captain after two brilliant seasons at Ikon Park. Former Collingwood and Adelaide player Crocker, 26, won the best-and-fairest in 2021 and the goalkicking in each of the past two years, kicking 38.35 and averaging 13.5 touches and 5.5 marks in 19 matches last year. The vice-captains are Lachie Swaney and Zavier Maher.
Part 1: Box Hill Hawks, Brisbane Lions, Carlton
Part 2: Casey Demons, Coburg, Collingwood
Part 3: Essendon, Footscray Bulldogs, Frankston
Part 4: Geelong Cats, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS
Part 5: North Melbourne, Northern Bullants, Port Melbourne
Part 6: Richmond, Sandringham, Southport Sharks
Part 7: Sydney Swans, Werribee, Williamstown
