Catch up on all the off-season news from North Melbourne, Northern Bullants and Port Melbourne in the fifth installment of the Smithy's VFL off-season update.
North Melbourne will be without its 2022 backline general Marty Hore, leading goalkicker Mat Walker, 2021 best-and-fairest winner Harry Jones and halfback Jack Lipscombe after all signed with Williamstown. Hore dominated in defence for the Kangaroos in 2022, averaging 26.3 disposals, 7.6 marks and 10.6 rebounds. He has played 64 VFL games for the Kangaroos, Casey, Collingwood and Essendon. Walker kicked 20 goals from 11 matches before a foot injury ended his season. Jones played 16 matches last year to bring up his 50th game in the last round, while Aspley product Lipscombe played 10 times for the Roos.
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Code Sports report Paul Amy reports Beaumaris VAFA Premier B stars Jak Nardino and Joel Cusack are on their way to the Kangaroos. Nardino won the league best-and-fairest in that division while Cusack booted 34 goals and shapes as a replacement for Walker.
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Tom Lynch will continue as coach of the Kangaroos. The former Adelaide and St Kilda player took over as caretaker last year when Leigh Adams was promoted into the same role at AFL level. While he had a 1-4 win-loss record, his team almost upset Richmond and Gold Coast, and also pushed Sydney late in the season. Adams has slotted into an assistant coach’s role under Alastair Clarkson at AFL level.
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The Kangaroos have landed the prized signature of clever small forward Sam Lowson from Coburg, according to Code Sports. Lowson was listed as a departure from the Lions shortly after the season “to pursue other VFL opportunities”, and it appears he has followed former coach Leigh Adams to Arden St. Lowson, 27, was touted as the NAB AFL Mid-Season Draft No.1 pick in 2019 but injured his ankle the week before and never got his chance. He played 11 games for 15 goals last year to give him 55 and 77 at Piranha Park.
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Delisted half-back Patrick Walker will be a Redleg in 2023 after signing for SANFL club Norwood. Walker, 20, played 17 VFL games for the Kangaroos last year (averaging 16.2 possessions) for a total of 23 in his two seasons on the list, but did not make an AFL debut.
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Speedy small forward Youseph Dib has signed with Eastern league club East Malvern. Dib, 19, played nine games for the Kangaroos last year after four for Collingwood in 2021.
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Delisted Bulldog Louis Butler has been linked to Arden St by Code Sports. Butler played 14 VFL matches last year (average 21.3 disposals, 5.3 marks) for a total of 21 and one AFL game for a total of four.
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Two of North Melbourne’s young Tasmanian Academy players have signed with SANFL club Norwood. Launceston’s Alec Wright, 22, played two games for the Kangaroos, while North Launceston’s Michael Stingel, 20, played one.
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North Melbourne has boosted its forward line with the signing of young Richmond goalkicker Sam Tucker, according to Code Sports. Tucker, 21, booted nine goals in six matches for the Tigers last year, including five in one match against Port Melbourne.
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Former North Melbourne backman Matt McGuinness will play for Southport after being one of the Queensland club’s first recruits. McGuinness played 17 VFL matches last year for a total of 19, averaging 17.3 disposals, 6.2 marks and 4.2 rebounds, but didn’t make an AFL debut.
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Youngster Sam Collins has crossed to Port Melbourne. Collins, 20, played 10 VFL games and averaged 11.2 disposals for a total of 11 matches for the Kangaroos last year.
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Three young NAB League graduates are training at North Melbourne in search of VFL contracts. Reports say Josh Hamilton, Ned Conway and Jason McCormick have been impressing on the track. Hamilton, played eight games for Northern Knights, averaging 18.5 disposals; Conway averaged 15.9 touches and 4.1 marks in 12 games for Western Jet, while McCormick picked up 15.5 possessions and 4.6 marks in 15 appearances for the Knights.
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Delisted Adelaide played Ben Davis has signed with the Kangaroos' VFL team. The 25-year-old Swans Academy graduate played 11 AFL games for Adelaide plus 69 SANFL matches for the Crows and six NEAFL games for Sydney.
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DELISTED Western Bulldog Louis Butler has officially signed at Arden St after being linked to the Kangaroos last month. Butler played 14 VFL matches last year for a total of 21 and one AFL game for a total of four.
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FORMER Hawthorn player Connor Downie is the fourth former AFL player to commit to North Melbourne. Downie, 20, spent the past two years with Hawthorn, playing two AFL games and 14 matches for Box Hill Hawks, where he averaged 14 disposals and four marks in five 2022 appearances.
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THE Western Jets have provided a talented small to North Melbourne, with Ned Conway having impressed enough on trial to earn a contract, according to reports. Conway, 18, played 12 NAB League games for the Jets last year, averaging 15.9 disposals and 4.1 marks.
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REPORTS that Jarrod Lienert would join North Melbourne as a player assistant coach have proven true, with the former Power and Saints man committing to Arden Street Oval. Lienert played seven VFL and 11 AFL games for St Kilda last year after being a Supplemental Selection Period addition, having previously lined up in 34 AFL and 52 SANFL matches for Port Adelaide.
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IT’S a fifth former AFL-listed player at Arden St, with Nick Stevens signing for North Melbourne. Stevens, 20, was delisted by Geelong after 13 VFL games last year for a total of 21.
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CALDER Cannon Tom O’Sullivan will ensure the famous name remains in the VFL after signing with North Melbourne, according to reports. Seymour’s O’Sullivan, played 10 matches for the Cannons last year, averaging 17.5 disposals
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A FIFTH Kangaroo has crossed the Westgate Bridge, with Connor Weightman landing a contract at Williamstown after training with the club over the pre-season. Weightman, 21, played six matches for North Melbourne last year.
Darren Basset has taken on the role of general manager at Northern Bullants. Basset has been on the board since 2009 and was most recently the human resources manager and director of football.
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The Bullants struck an early coup in the recruiting stakes in landing tough West Adelaide onballer Patrick Fairlie. The cousin of star Ant Liam Mackie, he averaged 23.2 disposals and 8.1 tackles in 13 matches for the Bloods last year. He has already played 51 SANFL games for his home club, plus 35 reserves matches.
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An AFL opportunity has come knocking for a second Bullants coach in 12 months, with Ben Hart joining GWS as an assistant coach. AFL Hall of Famer Hart took the reins after Josh Fraser landed a role at Collingwood this time last year and said in a letter to members that he would always remember his time at Preston City Oval fondly.
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The Bullants have a huge hole to fill in their back half after developing defender Mutaz El Nour signed with Richmond VFL. The South Sudanese talent from Caroline Springs Football Club played 12 games last year for a total of 18 and had been touted as a NAB AFL Draft fancy last year.
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Another huge blow for the Bullants, with impressive young ruckman Liam Podhajski to line up alongside his older brother Mitch at Coburg. The 202cm giant played 14 of his 17 games for the Ants last year, averaging 13.3 disposals and 19.1 hitouts, and they really missed him when he was injured late in the year.
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Former Collingwood goalsneak Brodie Holland is the new coach at Genis Steel Oval. Holland, 42, who led Western Region club Caroline Springs last year, played 155 AFL matches and kicked 141 goals for the Magpies and Fremantle from 1998-2008.
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Developing tall midfielder Sunny Brazier has left the Bullants. Brazier, 22, will play for Pascoe Vale in the Essendon league after managing only four games last year for a total of 13 at Preston City Oval.
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Northern has landed young ruckman Tom Stapleton as a replacement for Podhajski. Queanbeyan product Stapleton, 21, played one VFL game for GWS in 2021 before joining SANFL outfit North Adelaide last year, where he played one senior and 15 reserves games. Midfielder Ethan Jackson, 22, is reported to have crossed from Werribee, where he played one VFL match having graduated from the Tassie Devils pathway in 2019.
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Leader Local Footy reports Ben Silvagni has been linked with Josh Fraser and Collingwood’s VFL team. Silvagni, 22, the second son of Carlton legend Stephen, played only two games for the Bullants last year for a total of 29.
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Another huge out, with goalkicking midfielder Billy Murphy returnng to his old school club in VAFA outfit Old Ivanhoe. Murphy, 26, booted 10 goals from 17 matches last season and leaves with 72 State league games and exactly 100 goals for Box Hill Hawks, Aspley (NEAFL) and the Bullants.
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The Bullants will have another big hole in their key defensive stocks with the departure of centre half-back Ben De Bolfo to Box Hill Hawks. De Bolfo played 17 games for the Ants in his debut VFL season, averaging 10.4 disposals, 4.3 marks and 3.4 rebounds.
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Code Sports’ Dan Cherny reports that Kyle Dunkley is in talks to join follow his brother Josh north and could join the Brisbane Lions’ VFL squad. He 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.
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Having signed his cousin, the Bullants had every right to be confident of retaining Liam Mackie. And so it proved, with the important mid-forward recommitting at Preston City Oval. Mackie, 24, missed the first third of the season with suspension but played 11 matches for a total of 45, averaging 15.8 disposals, 4.5 marks and 4.3 rebounds.
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Jean-Luc Velissaris has developed into a crucial player for the Bullants and that will continue in 2023. The 24-year-old played all 18 matches last year, kicking 22 goals and averaging 17.7 disposals and 5.3 marks. He will play his 50th game early this year.
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Speedy goalkicker Nathan Honey will remain at the Bullants in 2023. Honey, 23, kicked 10 goals in 17 games last year for totals of 14 and 22 while averaging 11.9 disposals. Matthew King, who was one of the Bullants’ breakout stars last year, will also be in red again. King played 17 of his 33 VFL games last year, averaging 21.3 disposals and 6.9 marks.
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Legendary captain Tom Wilson has announced he will be moving on from Genis Steel Oval. Wilson, 30, has played 140 VFL matches for the Bullants/Blues, winning his fifth best-and-fairest last year. He has joined former Ants coach Josh Fraser at Collingwood, according to Code Sports. Wilson has listed Ovens and Murray outfit Myrtleford as his local club.
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Just to sting the Bullants more, high-flying key forward Jack Boyd has signed for Werribee. Boyd, 21, who famously took the “Hanger in Franga” in 2021, played all 18 games last year for a total of 28, averaging 11.3 disposals and 3.9 marks and kicking 24 goals.
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A boost for the Bullants, with talented Southern league defender Sam Hayes heading to Genis Steel Oval. Hayes, who was training with Frankston before deciding to wear red, steps up after 46 games as a key intercept backman in the local league.
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Forward Tynan Smith could be headed to Geelong. Smith, 23, kicked 15 goals in 14 matches for the Bullants for totals of 37 and 29 across three seasons (the first at Essendon).
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NEW coach Brodie Holland has landed a wealth of knowledge for his coaches box with the arrival of Kris Pendlebury as backline coach. Pendlebury, 36, the oldest brother of Collingwood great Scott, captained the Magpies’ VFL team a decade ago before a decorated career at Eastern league club Balwyn.
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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. He is still searching for a VFL debut. He’ll wear the No.32 his grandfather Len Clark wore to kick 107 goals for Preston to win the league’s goalkicking in 1972.
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THE Bullants have lured a Box Hill 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.
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A former GWS NEAFL player has landed at the Bullants, according to reports. Josh Buchanan played three NEAFL games for the Giants in 2018 but has been playing back home at Riverina league club Coolamon until moving to Melbourne this season.
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THE huge captaincy shoes of departed club legend Tom Wilson have been filled by two of the Bullants’ most important players, with Matt King and Liam Mackie awarded the role. King lined up 17 times last year, having joined from Port Melbourne in 2021. He had career-best numbers in disposals (21.3) and marks (6.9) last year. Mackie has played 21 of his 45 VFL matches for the Ants since crossing from Box Hill Hawks the same year.
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YOUNG Tasmanian tall Baker Smith has moved to the Northern Bullants. The 197cm Smith, 19, didn’t break through for a senior game for Williamstown but will get more opportunities at Genis Steel Oval.
Best-and-fairest winner Harvey Hooper has recommitted to the Borough for season 2023. Hooper played all 18 games last year for a total of 71. He averaged 23.4 disposals, 5.4 marks, 5.1 tackles and 4.9 clearances.
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One of the modern-day greats of Port Melbourne has pulled on the blue and red stripes for the final time, with captain Tom O’Sullivan announcing his retirement. O’Sullivan played 152 matches for the Borough from 2013-22, winning the 2017 premiership and captaining the club from 2019-22. He has returned to his VAFA home at Caulfield Grammarians, where he is a premiership player and best-and-fairest.
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Southport utility Aiden Fyfe has swapped black and white for red and blue after heading south to join Port Melbourne. Fyfe, 20, played seven VFL games for Gold Coast while on the Suns’ AFL list and added 11 for the Sharks last season.
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The Borough has locked away key midfielders Marcus Lentini and Nash Holmes, dual leading goalkicker Matt Signorello, young forwards Jake Gasper and Archi Manton, wing/half-back Campbell Walker and defender Tom Cameron.
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Tasmanian giant Jordan Lane will land at ETU Stadium. Cygnet product Lane, a 201cm key forward/ruckman, averaged eight marks and kicked 43 goals in 18 matches for Kingborough last year, winning the Matthew Richardson Medal for the best under-23 player in his first year in the TSL.
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Key position player Fletcher Roberts has called time in on his VFL career, signing for Eastern league club Mulgrave. Roberts played 127 VFL matches for Port Melbourne and Footscray for 57 goals, and kicked 19 goals in 2023. He was a member of the Western Bulldogs' 2016 AFL premiership team.
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Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist Ethan Phillips will stay at ETU Stadium if he is not picked up by an AFL club during the Supplemental Selection Period. The 23-year-old was a revelation defence after being repurposed as an interceptor last year. He averaged 19.6 disposals at 85 per cent efficiency, 9.8 marks (competition high) and 3.6 rebounds.
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Phillips is at the top of a list of eight young Port players to commit their futures to the Borough, including three 2022 Queensland recruits. The other seven are young ruckman Tom Hofert, Nick Burke, Jack Johnston, Cody Stackelberg, Jack Briskey, Jeremy O’Sullivan and Josh May.
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Port Melbourne has jumped on a famous name, signing Tom Hird from Essendon. The son of Bombers legend James Hird, the 21-year-old did not miss a VFL game in his two seasons at Windy Hill, playing all 28 for an average of 14.9 disposals on the wing, while also kicking 15 goals.
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Port’s recruiting blitz continues unabated, with Sandringham’s Cody Henness and Brisbane Lion Charlie Bowes switching to ETU Stadium. Henness, 23, will join his third VFL club after also playing for Footscray, having lined up 10 times for the Zebras last year. Lions Academy defender Bowes, 20, also played 10 games last year.
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A big signing for the Borough, with 2021 Richmond VFL best-and-fairest Will Martyn arriving off the Tigers’ AFL list. Brisbane Lions Academy graduate Martyn, 21, played all 28 VFL games in the past two seasons at Swinburne Centre, last year averaging 18.1 disposals and 4.7 marks. He also played six NEAFL games for the Lions and Aspley.
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The Borough has boosted its young brigade with the signings of Sam Collins, Harry Stubbings and Tasmanian Zac Adams.
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Star mid-defender Corey Wagner has earned a third AFL chance after being taken by Fremantle in the NAB AFL National Draft. Moving to half-back last year, Wagner, 25, played 15 VFL games for a total of 83, averaging 22.5 disposals, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 tackles and ran third in the Borough’s best-and-fairest.
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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.
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Josh Green has joined the Borough from the GWS GIANTS. The younger brother of GIANTS star Tom, the 20-year-old played 14 games last year for an average of 19.6 disposals and 4.6 clearances and takes 26 State league games’ experience to Port Melbourne.
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The biggest signing of the VFL off-season – in height anyway. Luckless Sydney Swans big man Sam Naismith has arrived at ETU Stadium after his delisting by the Swans on the comeback trail from his latest knee injury. Naismith, 30, has been hobbled by knee injuries since his breakout 2016 season and didn’t play last year, but looks ready to go and arrives at Port with 49 NEAFL/VFL games under his belt.
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Port Melbourne’s recruiting spree continues unabated with former Essendon speedster Dylan Clarke among four impressive recruits. Clarke played 24 AFL and 49 VFL games for the Bombers before being delisted in 2021. He spent last year with SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens, playing 18 matches and averaging 23.6 disposals, 4.4 clearances and 7.7 tackles. He will be joined by former AFL players Joel Wilkinson and Mitch Riordan and talented youngster Angus Curry.
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More great news for the Borough, with ruckman Paul Hunter, forward Anthony Anastasio, defender Jesse Cucinotta and wingman Angus Hanrahan re-signing for 2023.
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Mitch Wooffindin will always be revered at Port Melbourne for one simple act – the winning goal in the 2017 VFL Grand Final win over Richmond. But his decade-long career was so much more than that. Wooffindin, 29, retires with 126 VFL matches and 46 goals.
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Luckless midfielder Mitch Lewis has called time on his VFL career, opting to play full-time with Ballarat league club Sunbury Lions. Lewis, 24, had his 2022 season curtailed by injury, playing seven games. for a total of 23 with the Borough and Casey Demons.
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Will Reinhold made such an impact in the first half of his debut season with the Borough that he was given an exemption for the NAB AFL Mid-Season Draft. He wasn’t picked up and has decided to return home to Temora in the Farrer league of southern NSW.
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Injuries have finally got the better of Mack Rivett, with the wingman stepping away from the VFL. Rivett managed 13 matches in the past four years due to a multitude of problems, leaving the Borough with 59 matches from 2015-22.
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THERE could be more Holmes in Port Melbourne this year, with the younger brother of star midfielder Nash trialling for a spot on the Borough’s list, according to reports. Hudson Holmes, from Sale and formerly Maffra, was named at half-back in the Gippsland league’s 2022 team of the year.
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THERE hasn’t been much bad news for Port Melbourne in the off-season, but it has suffered a double blow with star recruit Will Martyn and clever forward Cody Szust both departing ETU Stadium. Former Richmond VFL best-and-fairest Martyn played all 28 VFL games in the past two seasons but has returned to Queensland. A personal opportunity has also led Szust to the door as he heads to South Australia after played kicking 19 goals last year.
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PORT Melbourne wasted no time putting its golden off-season back on track with the signature of 2010 No.2 AFL Draft pick Harley Bennell. The X-factor midfielder who played 88 AFL matches for Gold Coast, Fremantle and Melbourne, has had 22 WAFL games for Peel Thunder and four NEAFL games for the Suns but hadn’t played at State league level until arriving at Northern Territory club Tiwi Bombers this year, where he has averaged 21.4 disposals and 4.7 marks in 10 appearances.
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THREE more recruits and two important re-signings for Port Melbourne as the season draws closer. The Borough have lured Bryce Milford from Casey Demons, handed a second chance to former Richmond player Joel Cusack and given a contract to big midfielder Zach Walter, while also locking away Oskar Manton and Nick Stuhldreier.
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BOROUGH star Eli Templeton has stepped away from footy as he continues his recovery from his horror head injury suffered playing local football last year. Former St Kilda player Templeton has played 118 VFL games for Sandringham and Port Melbourne, winning two Borough best-and-fairests, four VFL Team of the Year guernseys and the 2017 premiership. He played 16 VFL matches last year.
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