2016 Player Movements and News Thread

[Ljp86]

Well it is November and the off-season is into full swing already. There's been plenty of news so far so I will do my best to bring everyone up to speed with all things WAFL in the five weeks or so since the Grand Final.

- Six time Subiaco premiership defender Darren Rumble has retired. Rumble played in a total of nine Grand Finals, six winning League GF's, one losing League GF and also two reserves flags. He retires with the second most premierships won by a single player with only Steve Marsh (seven) ahead of him.
- South Fremantle have signed Frankston VFL captain Shane Hockey who has signed a two year deal. Another Frankston product, Ben Cavarra could also join Hockey in the WAFL and is currently being pursued by Subiaco and West Perth.
- Former West Coast and South Fremantle player Jaymie Graham has signed on to coach East Perth in 2016. He replaces Brian Dawson who has stepped down to an advisory role.
- Brock O'Brien will remain with East Fremantle after signing a two year deal to extend his stay at Shark Park.
- Ashton Hams appears likely to remain at South Fremantle as well for 2016 but brother Kyle retired and will continue his playing days at Busselton where he currently resides.
- Shark Andrew Stephen is also considering his future after receiving a considerable offer from SANFL club North Adelaide where interim coach Brad Dodd will be an assistant at next season.
- Former Richmond and Adelaide ruckman Angus Graham will play with Perth next season after signing a three year deal with the Demons.
- Claremont have had a host of retirements with Kepler Bradley, Mark Seaby, Tom Swift, Tom Willett and Jordan McAllister all retiring. Bradley will become an assistant coach at the Tigers while Willett has called it quits due to work commitments. McAllister has retired to head back to the family farm in Ravensthorpe.
- The WAFL will pay clubs the full $35,000 for players drafted this season after a significant windwall from the four AFL finals matches played in Perth in September. The WAFL will also pay back $115,000 retrospectively for reductions made to player drafting payments in 2014.
- Jesse Crichton has signed with East Fremantle for three years after spending the last two at VFL club Werribee.
- Jacob Brennan has retired due to major ankle surgery and will become an assistant coach at the Sharks with father Michael the new director of football at East Fremantle. Cam Eardley has also re-signed with the Sharks for another two years.
- Jarrad Schofield will stay as coach of Subiaco after rejecting an offer as an assistant with Adelaide in the AFL. Spearhead and reigning Simpson Medallist Matt Boland will return to Melbourne after two seasons and two premierships with the Lions.
- Former St. Kilda player Clint Jones could return to South Fremantle after a 149-game AFL career. Jones played 2015 with St. Kilda affiliate Sandringham in the VFL could be tempted to return to his original club.
- Haiden Schloithe and Blayne Wilson have also signed on with the Bulldogs but Craig White and Paul Mugumbwa have all retired with James Sellar heading back to Adelaide.
- Josh Simpson looks set to play for East Fremantle next season with the Sharks in the process of securing work and relocation arrangements for the former Fremantle listed player.
- Greg Broughton has signed with Subiaco next season after retiring from the AFL having spent several seasons at Fremantle and also Gold Coast. The Lions are also confident of picking up Ryan Crowley should he not be picked up by another AFL club later this month. Crowley was originally aligned with Subiaco before the Peel Thunder arrangement came into effect in 2014.

 

[Ljp86]

Major List Changes 2016


Claremont

In: Brenden Abbott (Claremont/Collingwood), Jye Bolton (Collingwood/Werribee)
Out: Kepler Bradley (retired), Jordan McAllister (retired), Mark Seaby (retired), Tom Swift (retired), Tom Willett (retired)


East Fremantle

In: Jesse Crichton (Werribee), Brett Peake (North Fremantle Amateurs/returning), Matthew Watson (Carlton), Dylan Winton (Peel Thunder)
Out: Jacob Brennan (retired), Rory O'Brien (Peel Thunder)


East Perth

In:
Out: Dylan Main (West Coast delistee/South Fremantle), Murray Newman (West Coast delistee/Swan Districts)


Peel Thunder

In: Rory O'Brien (East Fremantle), Brad Walsh (Carlton)
Out: Max Duffy (Fremantle delistee/West Perth), Brendon Jones (retired), Dylan Winton (East Fremantle)


Perth

In: Angus Graham (Aberfeldie/Richmond/Adelaide), Clinton Jones (Sandringham/St. Kilda), Spencer White (St. Kilda)
Out:

South Fremantle

In: Blaine Johnson (Carlton), Shane Hockey (Frankston), Dylan Main (West Coast), Jordan Matera (Sandringham Dragons U18), Tom Vandeleur (Fremantle)
Out: Kyle Hams (retired), Paul Mugumbwa (retired), James Sellar (returning to Adelaide), Craig White (retired)


Subiaco

In: Greg Broughton (Gold Coast/Fremantle), Adam Cockie (West Coast/Sandringham)
Out: Matthew Boland (returning to Melbourne), Darren Rumble (retired), Frank Stockley (retired), Shane Yarran (drafted to Fremantle)


Swan Districts

In: Graham Jetta (returning), Murray Newman (West Coast/East Perth/returning) Shannon Taylor (Claremont)
Out:


West Perth

In: Max Duffy (Fremantle)
Out: Marcus Adams (drafted to Western Bulldogs), Raymond Bartholomew (retired), Marc Crisp (retired)

 

[Freofalcon]

Big outs for Claremont and Soufs.

Is Crowley to Swans confirmed ?

 

[Ljp86]

- Bill Monaghan has re-signed as coach of West Perth for a further three seasons which will tie him to the Falcons until the end of 2018.
- West Perth players Raymond Bartholomew and Marc Crisp have retired. Both players were a part of West Perth's 2013 premiership.

Big outs for Claremont and Soufs.

Is Crowley to Swans confirmed ?

Haven't heard anything about him going to Swans. Subiaco were confident of regaining his services as Crowley was aligned with Subi before the full WAFL alignment came in.

 

[Spearhead]

He is now a listed Swans player!

 

[Ljp86]

He is now a listed Swans player!

Yep, looks like it's official now. Will add that to the movements post.

 

[Underdog]

He is now a listed Swans player!

Great pickup IMO.

We had a core of 4 guys who shouldered the load and were cooked by the end of the season. He'll ease the burden a fair bit.

 

[Ljp86]

- Former Collingwood rookie Brenden Abbott (no, not the postcard bandit) has signed with his original WAFL club Claremont for 2016 in an attempt to reignite his AFL career. Also, former Hawthorn rookie Jared Hardisty will also sign with Claremont should he not be picked up in any of the AFL drafts held this week.
- Michael Pratt, an ex WA Under 18 coach will become a senior assistant and forwards coach at Perth in 2016.
- Graham Jetta has signed with Swan Districts for 2016 after not playing WAFL last year. Swans have also signed former Claremont player Shannon Taylor.
- Claremont premiership player Clay McLernon will coach East Fremantle's colts in 2016 while Kepler Bradley will be in charge of Claremont's reserves side.
- Perth have pulled off a coup and have signed former St. Kilda player Clint Jones for the next two seasons. Jones was being pursued by his original WAFL club South Fremantle but will instead play for the Demons in 2016 and 2017.

 

[andana]

Was told former Carlton star Matthew Watson has joined the Sharks. Simpson is back for sure.

 

[Freezin]

Andana word on the street is that Rory OBrien has gone back to Peel, yep Watson apparently signed and sealed, Simpson on board, Duffy and WP talking very closely too. Stephen still deciding about the SANFL, Luke McPharlin & Sandilands down at EF as part time mentors....would love for McPharlin to don the boots for a game or 20!.....still need a few more ins....disappointing about ROB but EF midfield was looking slow and old TBH be good if young inside mids in Perry, Schleicher and Jacob Green got some games in ROBs absence. Need a tall back I reckon and another mid....though Simpson on song would definitely provide some x factor and speed

 

[Ljp86]

- Delisted St. Kilda forward Spencer White has signed with Perth for two seasons in an attempt to reignite his AFL career. White played two games with St. Kilda across two seasons at the Saints before being delisted.
- Mason Shaw has signed a two year deal with South Fremantle, keeping him at Fremantle Oval until the end of 2017. Shaw who was drafted from the Bulldogs to Port Adelaide is back with his original club after being delisted by the Power at the end of 2015.
- The Bulldogs have also signed former Carlton forward Blaine Johnson and delisted West Coast player Dylan Main. Both have returned to South Fremantle after being drafted from the 'Dogs a couple of seasons ago.
- And in a busy few days for the Bulldogs, they've re-signed captain Ryan Cook for another three seasons, tying him to the club until the end of 2018.

 

[rodney hoo]

Andana word on the street is that Rory OBrien has gone back to Peel, yep Watson apparently signed and sealed, Simpson on board, Duffy and WP talking very closely too. Stephen still deciding about the SANFL, Luke McPharlin & Sandilands down at EF as part time mentors....would love for McPharlin to don the boots for a game or 20!.....still need a few more ins....disappointing about ROB but EF midfield was looking slow and old TBH be good if young inside mids in Perry, Schleicher and Jacob Green got some games in ROBs absence. Need a tall back I reckon and another mid....though Simpson on song would definitely provide some x factor and speed

Word on my street was Duffy was going to sharks and they were in the hunt for Moller.

 

[andana]

ROB and Moller could be the player swap

 

[Underdog]

Could EF and Perth finally have a significant amount of decent KPPs?

 

[Freezin]

Hopefully Duffy does stay at EF, as for Moller....mmmm not overly convinced with Moller.....yes he has height, but is he any good?.......Watson, Ellis, Cripps and Howson are all decent heights 195 - 197 cm.......reckon EF need another tall defender TBH....hopefully Wiley is on the look out for one.

 

[Ljp86]

- East Fremantle have signed Matthew Watson for two seasons after being delisted by Carlton after the end of the 2015 AFL season. The Sharks have also secured Luke McPharlin as a part-time backline coach for 2016.
- East Fremantle also expects to lose Rory O'Brien back to his original club Peel Thunder. O'Brien played 108 games at the Sharks and did not miss a game in his five seasons at Shark Park, winning three Lynn medals as East Fremantle's best and fairest player.
- Subiaco have signed Adam Cockie who has decided to return to WA after spending four seasons with Sandringham in the VFL. Cockie spent some time on West Coast's list and was originally drafted from Subiaco but headed east after being delisted by the Eagles. He will also take up a job working with indigenous youth.

 

[Tooks]

Ex Hawthorn forward Sam Grimley has signed with Subiaco as well.

 

[Ljp86]

- Subiaco has signed delisted Hawthorn forward Sam Grimley for the next two seasons. Grimley played only three games with the Hawks but won the VFL's leading goalkicker award in 2014 and 2015.
- Jarrad Schofield has also extended his coaching contract with the Lions for another two seasons which will keep Schofield at Subiaco until the end of 2018.
- West Perth have signed former Fremantle and East Fremantle forward Max Duffy for 2016. The Falcons are also looking at former Perth player Joel Leeson who could be swapped in a direct trade with Callum Papertalk who spent the season in the reserves.

 

[Freezin]

Disappointed EF couldn't persuade Duffy to suit up for them in 2016, money talks I guess. Hopefully EF can sting WP for top dollar transfer wise and recruit somebody of a decent ilk. I guess with Watson, BOB and Hampson up front, Duffy would of been the icing on the cake.....touch wood young talls in Ellis, Howson and Ellis can step up and kick a few.......still time for another recruit, wonder if Peel will handover money or players for ROB.....

 

[andana]

Can I like my own post?
Returning Players
We're pleased that former Sharks players have begun training with the Club again, including Tyler Chalwell (8 League, 77 Reserves games), Brett Peake (118 AFL, 100 League games), Josh Simpson (2 AFL, 14 League games), Cam Symonds (22 League, 27 Reserves) and Louis Cronan (10 League, 57 Reserves).

New Players
Along with Jesse Crichton and Matthew Watson, Denholm King has signed with the Sharks, Denholm played 17 League matches for Eaton Boomers in 2015 and won the Landmark medal for best player in the Landmark Country Week Championships, playing for the South West Football League.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Surely Peake is done?

 

[andana]

I would be surprised if he was getting a game ahead of some other young players. Tried a lot of young guys last year. Must be the way forward.

 

[Freezin]

Wonder how much EF got for the Duffy transfer?.....Chalwell is a decent size, might be used up back at 194cm, was playing some good footy at the end of 2014....though at CHF......not to sure if Denholm King is part of the ROB transfer?....money and a youngster.....youngster from Eaton Boomers midfielder from all reports......would love for EF to push for Kyle Westwood from Peel....195 cm tall.......still time for a few more recruits, but time is running out though.

 

[Desmodromico]

Brad Walsh is back with the Peel Dorkers

http://www.peelthunder.com.au/news/9648/thunder-welcome-back-walsh

 

[Ljp86]

- The WAFC have knocked back a request from East Perth to recruit West Coast delisted rookie Will Maginness. The Royals are allowed to recruit one player from outside their zones/alignment per season but a request for Maginness, who would be East Perth's second such player was turned down.
- Claremont will play a home game at Steel Blue Oval in 2016 as the redevelopment of Claremont Oval continues. The game is scheduled for Saturday, 10 April and will see Claremont compensated around $20,000.
- West Perth have been given two scheduled TV games next season, a round one night game against South Fremantle followed by a home match against Subiaco in round three.
- The state game will see the WAFL host the TSL on Saturday, 11 June at Steel Blue Oval starting at 2:15pm.
- Murray Newman has signed with Swan Districts for 2016 after being delisted by West Coast at the end of the 2015 season. Newman has originally intended to play in the VFL next year but has decided to remain in Perth and will play with his original club. Swans have also targeted a big name Victorian player and hope to make a further announcement in the new year.
- Claremont has recruited ex Collingwood rookie Jye Bolton.