The second part of the Smithy's VFL off-season update looks at the inclusions and departures at the Casey Demons, Coburg and Collingwood.
Premiership coach Mark Corrigan won’t be back to defend the Demons’ drought-breaking flag after returning to the scene of his playing career – Kardinia Park – to take on a new challenge of leading Geelong to the summit. Corrigan spent two years at the helm of the Demons and last year went within 15 points of coaching them to an undefeated premiership. But the call of home was too strong.
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The Demons’ premiership defence will be spearheaded by senior assistant Taylor Whitford after he was promoted into the top job for 2023. Whitford served as Corrigan’s righthand man for the past two years. He coached North Launceston to Tasmanian State League flags in 2018-19 after captaining the Bombers to the 2015 and 2017 triumphs among five titles on the Apple Isle. He juggled his Demons’ assistant coaching role with playing for Western Region club Altona last year, lining up in the Vikings’ Division 1 premiership team.
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Leading goalkicker Mitch Brown won’t be booting snags for the Demons this year after announcing his retirement following Casey’s Grand Final win over Southport. Brown, 32, played 113 VFL matches for Casey, Essendon, Sandringham and Geelong, kicking 175 goals, on top of 79 AFL games and 74 majors for the Demons, Bombers and Cats. He kicked 38.24 in 16 matches for Casey last year and will line up in 2023 for former VFA and now Southern league club Mordialloc.
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Former AFL ruckman Jake Spencer was called out of State league retirement for a surprise appearance for the Demons just before the finals, and will continue on locally this year, switching from Eastern league club Doncaster to Northern team Montmorency, according to Leader Local Footy. Spencer, 33, has played 103 State league games for Casey and Aspley (NEAFL), plus 38 AFL games for Melbourne.
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Fraser Rosman was a mainstay of the Casey Demons’ premiership-winning backline, playing 15 games (total 24) and averaging 11.3 disposals, only to miss the flag with a hamstring injury suffered in the preliminary final win over the Brisbane Lions. Then delisted by Melbourne, the luckless Rosman has decided to stay in red and blue, signing with Port Melbourne for 2023.
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A trio of Dandenong Stingrays are training with the Casey Demons in the hopes of securing a VFL contract, according to Code Sports. Finn Emile-Brennan was a star down back for Dandenong, averaging 22.1 disposals, 4.7 marks and 7.1 rebounds in 15 NAB League matches; Ned Moodie had 15.5 touches, 4.7 marks and 3.7 rebounds in 11 games; and Ziggy Toledo-Glassman picked up 10.8 possessions and kicked 14 goals in eight appearances.
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Experienced defender Matt Buntine is set to turn his attention more towards coaching at Casey. The premiership winner, 29, who arrived from GWS last year, played 16 games for the Demons, averaging 13.7 disposals and 4.5 marks after 73 NEAFL/VFL appearances for the Giants. He will remain on the list but expects to spend more time coaching at Casey Fields and playing VAFA for Caulfield Grammarians.
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Casey favourite sons Mitch White and Jimmy Munro will be back to defend their long-awaited premiership. The premiership captain and vice-captain were the feelgood stories of the Grand Final triumph, with White, 26, drinking from the Cup in his 104th VFL game and Munro, 28, doing so in game No.144. Tom Freeman is also expected to re-sign despite playing just three matches last year.
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CASEY has added a couple of Gippsland Power stars to its list, with Paddy Cross and Rhys Galvin winning contracts, according to Code Sports. Cross played 13 games as a Power overager last year. Galvin averaged 14.4 possessions in 13 NAB League appearances.
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TRENT Burgoyne lost out to Kye Turner in his bid for a spot on the Melbourne list, but he will still be in red and blue after signing with Casey Demons, according to Code Sports. Burgoyne, 21, the son of Port Adelaide great Peter, spent two years at the Power without playing an AFL game.
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TWO Eastern league stars have also arrived at Casey Fields, as reported by Code Sports. Young Berwick ruckman Charlie Muley and South Croydon goalkicker Tom Sheridan are set to be at the Demons. Muley played 17 games for the Wickers last year, booting 11 goals. Sheridan, 22, snagged 45 goals in 19 matches for the Bulldogs.
The Lions wasted no time in turning their attention to 2023, announcing the retention of 27 players from their 2022 list of 42. They re-signed now former co-captain Ryan Exon (16 games in 2022), best-and-fairest winner Jesse Corigliano (18), Flynn Gentile (18), Braedyn Gillard (18), Luke Nelson (18), Mitch Podhajski (18), Josh D’Intinosante (17), Edyn Sibbald* (17), Ben Jepson (16), Jhye Baddeley-Kelly (15), Nathan Boucher (15), Charlie Thompson* (14), Lachlan Walker (14), Tom McKenzie (12), Harry Nolan (11), Max Thompson (10), Luke Bunker* (8), Trent Warren (8), Aaron Clarke (6), Alex Lukic (6), Ben Reddick (6), Harry Andronaco (4), Tom Jepson (4), Josh Kemp (4), Jono Marsh (4), Ryan Sturgess (4), Josh Watson (3). 2022 star recruit Sam McLarty, who managed just two matches due to injury, has departed.
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A huge hit for Coburg with co-captain Peter McEvoy announcing his VFL retirement. The star centre half-forward, 31, finishes on 92 matches and 121 goals, going out having played every match in his final season and kicking 13 goals, including a best-on-ground effort against Geelong at Ballarat in what turned to be his last victory for the Lions. He will play for Bundoora in the Northern league.
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The Lions suffered a double blow with stars Adam Swierzbiolek and Tom Silvestro calling time on their VFL careers. Swierzbiolek, 28, played 39 matches for the Lions, fighting back last year after missing 2021 with a broken ankle suffered in Round 1. He will play for Eastern league club East Ringwood. Silvestro, 27, crossed from Richmond after 68 games for the Tigers, adding 27 matches for a total of 95 at VFL level.
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McEvoy, Swierzbiolek and Silvestro are on top of the list of 15 Lions who have departed Piranha Park. Other stars moving on are dual best-and-fairest runner-up and dual VFL Team of the Year centre half-back Jack Maibaum, 24, who heads to WAFL club Claremont after 65 State league games for Coburg and Sydney; gun small forward Sam Lowson, 27, who has joined North Melbourne after 55 games for the Lions; and former AFL midfielder Corey Ellis, 26, who has retired and will play for Keilor after 67 games for Coburg, Gold Coast and Richmond.
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Stalwart defender Jesse Corigliano has been named captain of the Lions. Corigliano, 26, who won his first club best-and-fairest last year, has played 80 matches at Piranha Park and replaces fellow backman Ryan Exon and retired key forward Peter McEvoy. His vice-captains will be swingman Mitch Podhajski and speedy wingman Nathan Boucher.
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Impressive Northern Bullants ruckman Liam Podhajski will line up alongside his older brother Mitch after moving down Bell St to Piranha Park. 202cm Liam, 20, played 14 of his 17 games for the Ants last year, averaging 13.3 disposals and 19.1 hitouts, and they missed him badly when he was injured late in the year.
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Richmond rookie Jackson Bowne has joined Coburg. The Bundoora small forward, 19, made his VFL debut for the Tigers in Round 5, gathering six disposals, but didn’t add to that solitary appearance. He played 19 NAB League games and kicked 13 goals for Northern Knights from 2019-21.
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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.
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Max Kennedy and Max Simpson are two more youngsters to move from an AFL club to a standalone seeking a chance to prove themselves. Simpson, 21, played 10 matches for Essendon last year for a total of 14, while Kennedy, 22, played once for Port Melbourne in 2019 before joining Collingwood last year, but the only game he managed for the Magpies was the exhibition match against the AIS Academy early in the season.
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Son of a gun Kyle Weightman has followed former Essendon teammate Simpson across Sydney Rd to Piranha Park. Weightman, 23, the son of Richmond great Dale “Flea” Weightman, played seven VFL matches in his debut season with the Bombers, kicking six goals.
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Another Collingwood youngster will call Coburg home with Adam Carafa making the move across town. Carafa, 21, will be looking for opportunities after not winning a VFL debut for the Magpies.
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The Lions landed Liam Podhajski and now they have added developing Carlton VFL ruckman Aaron Gundry to help replace retired giant Adam Swierzbiolek. 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.
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The Lions will have a new coach after Andrew Sturgess landed a full-time job coaching the Calder Cannons. Sturgess led Coburg for the past three years, guiding the club through the Covid years and finishing with a 7-21 win-loss record but showing significant improvement over that time. That new coach is Jamie Cassidy-McNamara, who has been appointed for the next two seasons in crossing from the top job at VAFA club Old Trinity Grammarians, having previously been involved at Collingwood.
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The Lions have landed the signature of Murray Bushrangers NAB League captain Nic Quigg for 2023. Quigg, 18, from Seymour, played 14 games for the Bushrangers last year, averaging 21.2 disposals, 4.1 marks, 3.9 tackles and 4.7 inside-50s.
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Originally re-signed for 2023, three experienced Lions have now called time on their VFL careers and another star has gone west. 2021 best-and-fairest winner Luke Bunker, 24, played eight games last year for a total of 56, averaging 22.6 disposals and 4.1 clearances. Edyn Sibbald, 26, played 17 games (17 goals) for a total of 30, averaging 9.3 disposals. Sam McLarty, 24, struggled with injury last year, playing just two games, and leaves with 49 VFL appearances. Star mid-forward Charlie Thompson, 23, is a huge loss, having played 14 games for a total of 39, averaging 19.1 disposals and kicking 11 goals. He has crossed the Nullarbor to join former Coburg coach Peter German at WAFL club Perth.
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These new Burgers have a nice ring to them. Coburg has landed the signatures of tall forward Will Bella from Gold Coast, Goulburn Valley league best-and-fairest Ben Rigoni from Seymour, Tom Rowland from Altona and the Western Jets and George Belcher, Hugo McGlashan and Sam Mason from VAFA club Old Trinity. Suns Academy graduate Bella, 19, played three games for the Suns last year for a total of seven, with a best return of three goals in a 2021 come-from-behind win over Sydney and chooses the Lions after training with North Melbourne VFL before Christmas.
THE Lions have landed a third young Magpie, with Braden Andrews following Adam Carafa and Max Kennedy from Collingwood to Piranha Park. Andrews, 19, played two games last season in his top age NAB League year, averaging 20.5 disposals, 5.3 marks and 4.3 inside-50s in 11 games for Oakleigh Chargers.
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COBURG has awarded contracts to two young graduates of last year’s NAB League competition, with Ben Cameron and Ingo Dammersmith arriving at Piranha Park. Cameron played 10 NAB League games for Bendigo Pioneers last year, while Dammersmith lined up 10 times for Oakleigh Chargers.
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IT WAS four in one day for the Lions, who also announced the signings of Daniel Johnston and Daniel Owen. Johnston, 23, is a powerful key forward from Barooga who played 35 SANFL reserves games for Norwood in 2018-19, kicking 28 goals. 175cm small forward Owen, 20, crosses from Eltham, where he slammed on 63 majors in 21 matches last year.
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COBURG is the first club to officially reveal its completed list for season 2023, with 19 newcomers among the 44 players locked in.
Collingwood coach Craig Black has moved to the NAB League as a coach developer. Black led the Magpies 2019-22, having them in the top eight in the 2021 abandoned season before making an elimination final last year, where they lost to Carlton after a promising campaign.
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Young Magpies Max Kennedy and Adam Carafa have moved from an AFL club to a standalone seeking to prove themselves. Kennedy, 22, played one VFL game for Port Melbourne in 2019 before joining Collingwood last year, but the only match he managed for the Magpies was the exhibition match against the AIS Academy early in the season. Carafa, 21, was unable to make his VFL debut for the Magpies last year.
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Boom suburban full-forward Matt Wetering will be back at Springvale Districts full-time. Wetering, 22, kicked 12 majors in eight matches for the Magpies after stepping up following back-to-back Eastern league Division 2 goalkicking awards.
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Young Magpie Isaac Wallace has journeyed down Nepean Rd, swapping white stripes for gold to join Sandringham. Wallace, 24, played three games for Collingwood last year for a total of seven but was unable to get a regular run at it.
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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 leaves the Magpies with 70 AFL and 38 VFL games.
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Former Magpies No.1 pick and highly respected mentor Josh Fraser has been announced as Craig Black’s replacement as VFL coach. Fraser, who played 200 AFL games, led Northern Bullants back into the VFL after the breakdown of their alignment with Carlton before returning to Collingwood as a development coach and looks to be the perfect man to help the team take the next step.
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Great news for Collingwood with three crucial VFL-listed players committing in co-captain Campbell Hustwaite, Campbell Lane and Kaden Schreiber. Hustwaite, 22, played all 19 games (five goals) last year for a total of 41, averaging 19.1 disposals, 5.1 clearances and 4.1 tackles. Lane, 25, played 17 games (eight goals) for a total of 59, averaging 16.9 disposals and 4.6 marks. Schreiber, 21, played eight games for a total of 15, averaging 12 disposals.
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The nephew of Sydney Swans coach John Longmire will take the next step in his bid to reach the highest level by playing VFL for Collingwood. Jedd Longmire, 18, whose father Murray is a great of Corowa-Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray league, played six NAB League games for the Murray Bushrangers, averaging 21 disposals, 4.7 clearances and 3.8 tackles.
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Collingwood has boosted its VFL back six with the addition of former St Kilda/Sandringham defender Darragh Joyce, according to Code Sports’ Paul Amy. Irishman Joyce, 25, played 12 VFL games last season for a total of 61, averaging 16.4 disposals, 5.2 marks and 6.5 rebounds. He also played 13 AFL games for St Kilda. However, Joyce is now training with Brisbane Lions in a bid to earn a Supplementary Selection Period contract.
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The Magpies have locked away another three of their VFL core, with Sam Glover, Jacob Booth and Viv Blackmore-Moore sticking around. Sharpshooter Glover, 26, kicked 21.6 in 16 matches (total 37 in 35), averaging 9.8 disposals and 4.1 marks; Booth, 25, booted 12.8 in eight matches (total 21 in 15), averaging 11 disposals and four tackles; and Blackmore-Moore, 22, added 8.10 in eight games in his debut season from 9.5 disposals.
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Collingwood is believed to have lost Callan Wellings, with the half-backman joining Ballarat Swans, Leader Local Footy reports. Wellings, 24, played nine games last year for a total of 53, averaging 15.7 disposals and four marks for career numbers of 17 and four.
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Carlton has landed the signature of delisted Collingwood defender Liam McMahon. McMahon, 20, played 19 games for the Magpies last year (total 26), averaging 15.4 disposals, 5.1 marks and 5.8 rebounds, but didn’t make his AFL debut. He will play for Montmorency in the Northern league when not required by the Blues.
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Magpie co-captain Lachie Tardrew could be on the way out of Victoria Park due to work commitments, according to a Bendigo Advertiser report that he has taken a teaching job in the regional city and could join Sandhurst if the travel is too much. Tardrew, 25, has played 80 VFL matches for Collingwood (plus one for Essendon), including 18 last year, for 20.9 disposals, 4.2 marks, 4.9 tackles and 3.6 clearances.
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Former Essendon son-of-a-gun Jake Long is training with Collingwood’s VFL team, according to Code Sports’ Paul Amy. Long, 26, the son of Bombers legend Michael, played five AFL and 82 VFL matches for Essendon from 2014-19.
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Former Collingwood player Caleb Poulter is set to be announced as a Footscray player, The Age’s Marc McGowan reports. Poulter, 20, is training with the Bulldogs and took part in match simulation before Christmas. He played 17 VFL matches for a total of 20, averaging 21.4 disposals and 5.1 marks. Tyler Brown, 23, was set to join him before joining Adelaide as a delisted free agent this week.
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Legendary Northern Bullants captain Tom Wilson has reacquainted himself with former coach Josh Fraser at Collingwood, according to Code Sports’ Paul Amy. Wilson, 30, has played 140 VFL matches for the Bullants/Blues, winning five best-and-fairests. Wilson has listed Ovens and Murray outfit Myrtleford as his local club.
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Star utility Sam Fowler has departed the Magpies, returning home to Dromana full-time, according to Leader Local Footy. Fowler, 24, kicked 25 goals in 15 matches in 2022 (14.2 disposals) for totals of 36 in 24.
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Key defender Jack Madgen will play SANFL for Adelaide this year after losing his spot on Collingwood’s AFL list. Madgen, 29, played seven VFL matches for the Magpies last year for a total of 36, averaging 16.1 disposals and 6.3 marks.
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A THIRD young Magpie has crossed to Coburg, with Braden Andrews joining Adam Carafa and Max Kennedy at Piranha Park
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TALL prospect Liam Purcell has returned for a second season at Collingwood. Purcell, 22, made his debut last year, picking up six disposals, eight hitouts and a goal.
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SANDRINGHAM has confirmed the switch of Isaac Wallace from Collingwood. Wallace, 24, crosses from Collingwood, where he played three matches (6.0 disposals) for a total of seven (plus five WAFL games for Claremont in 2018).
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YOUNGSTER Cameron Wild has returned to Genis Steel Oval, according to Code Sports. Wild, 21, the son of Jason Wild, who played 70 AFL matches for Collingwood from 1995-99, was at the Bullants in 2021 before joining the Magpies last year.
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THE Magpies have offered a contract to Eastern Ranges over-ager Harry Flynn, according to Code Sports. Flynn, 18, played eight matches for Eastern last year, averaging 18 disposals and 3.3 inside-50s.
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DEVELOPING ruckman Tom Roberts has added a stripe of red to his black and white, heading south to Frankston, according to Code Sports. The 202cm, 112kg Roberts, 22, who hails from Somerville, played seven matches for the Magpies last year, averaging 7.1 disposals and 32 hitouts.
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
