VFL 2024: The first 60 recruits locked in for next season, with club switches aplenty
Signings are flooding in from across the VFL for next season. PAUL AMY reveals the players on the move and what they offer their new clubs.
Player signings are gathering pace across the VFL for season 2024. Here are the notable recruits, in alphabetical order.
Daly Andrews, Werribee
As Werribee GM Mark Penaluna points out, midfielder Andrews is a “Werribee boy’’, having come out of local club Werribee Districts. And he’s put pen to paper with the Bees after 36 games for Williamstown from 2021-23, including two finals this year.
Ben Ashley-Cooper, Sydney
From Lavington, midfielder Ashley-Cooper is seen as one of the brightest prospects in the strong Ovens and Murray league. The Swans are perky about what the 2021 Murray Bushrangers graduate can do in the VFL.
Charlie Bowes, Coburg
Running defender Bowes, a Queensland representative at the 2021 Under 18 championships and a Brisbane VFL player the following year, has crossed from Port Melbourne, where he was disappointed to play only four games last season. The Lions are like him: they believe he has more to give at senior level.
Jack Briskey, Coburg
The athletic 195cm key position player fell out of favour with the Port Melbourne selectors after playing eight games in 2022. Briskey is from Queensland and was with the Brisbane Lions’ VFL team in the sawn-off 2021 season.
Hugo Brommel, Coburg
The 20-year-old midfielder is eyeing more senior chances with the Burgers after five appearances with Footscray VFL this year. He was also a strong performer for VAFA Premier finalist Old Scotch in the VAFA.
Henry Brown, Coburg
There are good notices around Brown, a 180cm forward and midfielder who represented the VAFA this year and booted three goals against Perth. He was named in the VAFA Premier team of the year after booting 21 goals and averaging 17.5 disposals from 19 games. Brown could rise quickly at the City Oval.
Wylie Buzza, Southport
A B-I-G inclusion for Southport as it sets out to climb the ladder after a thin 2023. The former Geelong and Port Adelaide forward spent the past two seasons with the Brisbane Lions’ VFL team and booted 40 goals this year.
Josh Browne, Williamstown
The 187cm midfielder has transferred from the West Coast Eagles in the WAFL. Browne averaged 24.4 disposals last season to run third in his club’s best and fairest. Two years earlier, while at East Fremantle, he won the Colts competition medal.
Rhys Clark, Southport
The Sharks have regained their 2018 NEAFL premiership player Rhys Clark, who left at the end of 2022 for travel and business reasons. He ended up having a stint with Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley league. In his last season with the Sharks the key defender had finished fourth in the vote count for a grand final team.
Riley Collier-Dawkins, Williamstown
The 23-year-old was the No. 20 pick in the 2018 national draft and went on to 11 AFL games with Richmond. Delisted at the end of 2022, he joined Woodville-West Torrens, where he averaged 15.5 disposals from 10 matches.
Leo Connolly, Casey Demons
Connolly lingered in the Sandringham VFL team in 2022-23 after playing seven AFL games for St Kilda in 2021. From Gippsland, he’s living in the Beaconsfield district, putting him in Casey territory.
Ben Crocker, Collingwood
A return to the Maggies for Crocker, who made 26 AFL appearances for Collingwood before joining Adelaide in 2020. He’s been with Carlton VFL since 2021, playing 45 matches. Kicked 17.21 this year in a forward role.
Taine Dawson, Southport
The emerging ruckman was crowned the QAFL’S Rising Star for 2023 after his performances for Broadbeach, when he averaged 16 disposals, five marks and 28 hit-outs. His season also took in a handful of games for the Suns Academy team and a VFL game for Gold Coast.
Hugo Dixon, Southport
An East Fremantle Shark this year, the key forward will be a Southport Shark next year. The former Tasmanian brings the experience of AFL appearances with the Dockers (one game) and Eagles (10), and a WAFL premiership.
Ben Edwards, Sydney
A top-line midfield recruit for the Swans is Claremont’s Edwards, who was touted as an AFL mid-season draft hope this year. “If you watched him step through traffic and break into the clear, you would swear you were looking at an AFL player,’’ CODE Sports’ Mark Duffield wrote this year. “It is the next part of the process that has clubs putting a question mark on him: every now and then he breaks into the clear, takes aim at a target and misses what he should hit.’’ Edwards, 24, ought to be a dominant VFL player.
Joel Fitzgerald, Williamstown
The creative and cool half-back switches to the Towners from Essendon VFL, where he finished fifth in the best and fairest this year and played 30 games in two seasons.
Will Fordham, Williamstown
Fordham this year won his third best and fairest at Frankston, and on the night he accepted the award he announced he would be leaving the club. He didn’t say where he was going but it was common knowledge he was off to Willy. The right-footer is one of the best midfielders outside the AFL and averaged 26.6 possessions from 18 games in 2023, enough to gain another VFL Team of the Year plaque.
Rhys Galvin, Coburg
Galvin, a 190cm defender from Gippsland, was on Casey’s VFL list this year but played only one game. His local football was at Old Scotch, where he received a Rising Star nomination. Scotch senior coach Mark Gnatt commented: “At the raw age of 18, Rhys plays with poise and composure well beyond his years.’’
Joel Garner, Richmond
The Tigers saw more of Garner than they liked this year when, playing for Footscray, he had 25 possessions and booted two goals against them. He’s joined Richmond VFL as a development coach, to go with his full-time employment at Punt Rd as an indigenous player development manager. Left-footer Garner played four senior games for Port Adelaide after being selected in the 2017 national draft. He joined the VFL Bulldogs in 2022.
Noah Gown, Frankston
The Dolphins were looking for some firepower in attack and they found it in former Essendon-listed forward Gown. He played at Sandringham this year, kicking 21.19 from 17 matches, and also had a run in the Gippsland league, figuring in Leongatha’s premiership. The 193cm Gown was pick No 60 in the 2018 national draft after winning Gippsland Power’s best and fairest. He had two years with the Bombers and joined Williamstown in 2021. Another move came last year, to Sandy. The Dolphins are hoping for a longer tenure from a player they regard highly.
George Grey, Frankston
After 41 games in two-and-a-half seasons with Casey, including the 2022 premiership, Grey has joined a number of other former Sandringham Dragons at Kinetic Stadium. He won Casey’s Rising Star award in 2022, finished sixth in the best and fairest this year and will add a dash of class to the Dollies.
Sam Grant, Coburg
The Lions were after a ruckman and they landed 204cm, 20-year-old Grant, who made one appearance for Carlton’s VFL team this year. He spent the rest of the season at Old Scotch, gaining regular mentions in the best.
Cody Harrington, Southport
The defender joins the Sharks from Broadbeach, where he took his senior bow at age 16 in 2021 and was part of the Cats’ premiership team. He played five games with the Suns’ VFL team this year.
Jackson Hately, Essendon
The Bombers have lost a few players from their VFL list but have made a snazzy signing in 23-year-old Hately, who is coming off a sparkling SANFL season with the Crows in which he won the best and fairest and was selected in the team of the year. His AFL career took in 15 games with Adelaide after 13 at GWS.
Lucas Impey, Williamstown
The 199cm ruck prospect and basketballer, from Darley, averaged 23.9 hit-outs in six matches for the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League last season. He’s green but keen.
Ben Jepson, Southport
Jepson averaged 25.1 possessions from 18 matches this year to win Coburg’s best and fairest, be a finalist in the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal and ripen into an AFL prospect. His change of clubs came about through family ties on the Gold Coast as much as ambitions for his football.
Spencer Johnson, Port Melbourne
A third club in three years for the classy and adaptable Johnson, who joined the Northern Bullants this year from Werribee. Finished third in the Ants’ best and fairest.
Josh Kemp, Williamstown
A third VFL club for Kemp, who has linked with Willy after stints at Essendon VFL and Coburg. Played 11 games for the Burgers this year.
Flynn Kroeger, Port Melbourne
Kroeger knew nothing but knee troubles in his two years on Geelong’s list but the Borough have fingers crossed he’ll get a good run at it with them. His pace will be ace for a team that lacked zip last season.
Campbell Lake, Southport
The Sharks have gained a VFL premiership player in the diminutive and helmeted Lake, who was part of the Gold Coast team that defeated Werribee in this year’s grand final. He also appeared in the Suns’ Academy team and for Labrador in the QAFL.
Dylan Laurie, Coburg
The small defender makes the short drive from Bell St, linking with the Lions from neighbouring Northern Bullants, where he was a handy performer across 15 games this year.
Robbie McComb, Port Melbourne
An outstanding recruit for the Borough is the former Bulldog, who with relentless running and uncompromising ball-winning rose from Footscray VFL to have two years on the senior list and play 18 AFL games, including 15 in 2022. Won the ’Scray’s best and fairest and was in the VFL Team of the Year in 2021.
Jimmy Miller, Port Melbourne
The 195cm powerhouse forward joins the Borough from South Fremantle but he knows his way to VFL grounds, having played at Frankston in 2019. The year before, in something akin to Winx showing up at Woolamai picnic races, the Navy officer had played in the Cerberus team in Division 4 of the Southern league, kicking goals by the bag and helping it to a premiership.
Steve Miller, Sydney
The forward and back-up ruckman has joined Ben Edwards in making the move from the WAFL to the VFL.
Tyson Milne, Frankston
He’s the son of former Saint Steve, but Tyson Milne is an accomplished player in his own right. He gave Sandringham a good 2023 season, averaging 20.8 possessions from 16 matches.
Harry Minton-Connell, Williamstown
Like Fitzgerald, Minton-Connell, the son of former AFL forward Simon, has crossed from Essendon VFL. The rebounding defender also had a stint at Port Melbourne in 2021.
Mitch Moschetti, Port Melbourne
The Borough snaffled the onballer from the VFL Blues, where he played three games early in the season and three more late. At local level, he had 16 matches for Hurstbridge, earning 10 mentions on the best-player list.
Owen Mulady, Port Melbourne
A left-foot wingman, Mulady has transferred from West Adelaide in the SANFL. But he’s from Melbourne’s north and went through the Knights system in the Under 18s.
Tom Murphy, Frankston
The Dolphins were desperately disappointed to lose Murphy, 25, at the end of 2022 but the six-game AFL Kangaroo has returned after a dominant year in local football with Somerville.
Xavier O’Neill, Essendon
The former West Coast Eagle, who came out of Blackburn juniors and the Oakleigh Chargers, has returned to Melbourne as he eyes a return to the AFL. Pick No. 28 at the 2018 national draft, he made 39 appearances with the Eagles, including 15 this year.
Tomoya Owens, Frankston
The former basketballer joins brother Kai at the Dolphins after breaking into Sandringham’s senior side this year. He finished with 13 games and at an athletic 196cm, he’s quite a prospect as a tall wingman.
Luke Parks, Williamstown
Another AFL-experienced player sets up home at Point Gellibrand. Rookie listed ahead of 2021, Parks had eight AFL matches for Carlton and he stayed with the Blues’ VFL team after being delisted at the end of 2022. He is from NSW and went to the Glenelg in the SANFL, where he caught Carlton’s attention. Willy see him as a defender with the polish and poise to initiate attacks.
Jaelen Pavlidis, Werribee
After graduating from the Western Jets as the joint winner of the 2022 best and fairest, Pavlidis played 16 matches for the GWS VFL team this year, averaging 13.8 disposals. He’s gone to the club where his father, John, played more than 30 years earlier.
Jovan Petric, Williamstown
The young tall forward had a busy 2023, playing at the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League and with Keilor in the Essendon District league. He was also on Collingwood’s VFL development list. Petric figured in the Mick McGuane-coached Keilor premiership team, booting 24 goals from six games with the Bulldogs, including a haul of 11.
Ethan Phillips, Box Hill Hawks
Port Melbourne’s key defender and the 2022 Fothergill-Round-Medal winner is seeking a fresh start with the VFL Hawks and potentially a train-on slot with the AFL Hawks.
Elijah Reardon, Southport
Reardon is making the jump to the VFL after 83 games with Kingborough Tigers in the Tasmanian State League. The running defender played 19 games this year, averaging 17 disposals, and was selected in the team of the year and played for the representative side that defeated Queensland.
Pierce Roseby, Sydney
The former Swans Academy player has returned to his home city after a stint at Frankston, where he played 22 games in two seasons.
Will Sexton, Southport
Sexton joins his brother Jack at the Sharks after an impressive season with the Northern Bullants. Both Sextons played for Yarrawonga in its 2022 grand final season.
Baker Smith, Port Melbourne
The former Tasmanian had some standout performances for the Northern Bullants this year but a four-week suspension for rough conduct bit into his season. The Ants nominated him for the Fothergill-Round-Mitchell Medal. Port will be Smith’s third club; he was at Williamstown in 2022.
Ryley Stoddart, Williamstown
In a boost for Willy and a blow for Frankston, the ace left-footer and former Sydney Swan joined Dolphins best and fairest Will Fordham in making the move to the Towners. Averaged 26.1 disposals from 14 matches last season, and will help Willy bolster a backline thinned by the departure of Oscar McDonald to Fremantle and the likely drafting of best and fairest Marty Hore.
Mitch Szybkowski, Casey
Widely considered the hardluck story of the 2022 draft, the Dandenong Stingrays midfielder joined Frankston this year and had an encouraging season, but has chosen to switch to the Melbourne-aligned Demons.
Joel Trudgeon, Coburg
The Lions have made an excellent signing in Trudgeon, who lined up at Box Hill Hawks this year and managed only three senior games. But the brick-hard midfielder played 20 matches for Carlton’s VFL team in 2022 and regularly had more than 20 possessions (including 34 against Coburg).
Tristen Waack, Williamstown
From Morwell, where he came through under the coaching of former VFA/VFL champion Denis Knight, Waack spent this year at Box Hill Hawks, playing six senior matches. Is hoping for more opportunities at the stand-alone Seagulls.
Tobe Watson, Port Melbourne
The 191cm backman brings AFL experience to North Port Oval, having played 14 matches with Fremantle. Watson, 25, has spent the past two seasons with Swan Districts in the WAFL.
Cooper Whyte, Werribee
The 20-year-old heads to Chirnside Park after two years and one AFL game at Geelong, which selected him at No 64 in the 2021 national draft. The midfielder should come through quickly with the Bees.
Lachie Young, Carlton
Carlton overcame strong competition to sign Young, with Essendon also pursuing the 24-year-old. He’s still eager to play at the highest level after runs with the Western Bulldogs (eight games) and North Melbourne (39).
And two more to watch for …
Tyler Brown, Box Hill Hawks: The 23-year-old former Magpie is set to join his brother Callum at the City Oval after playing one game for Adelaide this year. He had joined the Crows during the pre-season supplemental selection period.
Akol Deng, Williamstown: The former basketballer is tipped to join the Towners after time on Werribee’s books. The 24-year-old ruckman was a powerhouse for Yarraville-Seddon in local football this year.
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