2026 player moves - ins and outs, signings and departures

[thefunnelweb]

Depends on whether he gets permission.

What’s going on down there cliff? 7-10 leaving is never a good sign

 

[Voice of the G]

Strong top 5 or 6 and garbage bottom three I think

Top half probably wouldn't be out of place in Premier

Montrose bonkers, if they have got McLaughlin too then they should be faves

Boronia very good with more additions

Park Orchards don't look to have really picked up anybody, but I think have retained so should be strong again.

Silence out of North Ringwood but if they don't lose any will be strong again.

Mitcham retained their squad and picked up a couple, but I think they will need something more to really compete - need to fill that key forward hole. They're touting a big announcement tonight so maybe they have!

Wantirna South a bit unknown but have picked up a couple incl a ready-made star in Wong, so could go alright. They'll be in no danger of relegation due to what is below them.

Beaconsfield looks like there's unrest there, they will tumble you'd think. Have lost their coach and key players. But again, doubt they'll be in relegation trouble.

Mooroolbark, Bayswater and Norwood look like they'll be shit again and will fight out relegation - Norwood have picked up a couple which should even up that fight. Mooroolbark have a couple but are still a very long way off the top half of this very strong division, think they'll be fodder.

Looking forward to you big announcement about Mitcham Bunk.I thought I was the "Voice of the G:lol.

 

[Crusey]

This one ?

The Mitcham Football Netball Club is thrilled to welcome back Guy Laughlin for the 2026 season!
After an incredible run with Mitcham that included 3 Eastern Football Netball League Senior Premierships, Guy made the move to Western Australia for work and spent the 2025 season with the Boulder Tigers, where he capped off a stellar year by winning their Senior club Best & Fairest.

 

[CliffMcTainshaw]

What’s going on down there cliff? 7-10 leaving is never a good sign

You've made up the 7-10. Where'd you pluck that figure from. From the names listed: Kodey has retired, I didn't know Lewis had also retired. A pity because both had good seasons, Lewis in particular seemed to find his position at CHB and was really consistent. Marcus has been a good player for a couple of years, but didn't play as well this season as he has in the past. Matt Jenkins played all year in the ressies. His brother Anthony had a really bad injury very early in the season and didn't play for most of the year. He already missed a season a couple of years ago with serious knee injury. Haven't heard anything about him since the season finished so can't add anything further. His injury really left us without a ruckman from then on. Spiteri has plenty of talent, won a couple of junior B&F and was 3rd in B&F in the U19 Div a couple of years ago. Signs up and then there is always a reason why he can't play. Was working on Saturdays this year. I guess you don't make much from footy if you hardly play.

 

[good thing]

You've made up the 7-10. Where'd you pluck that figure from. From the names listed: Kodey has retired, I didn't know Lewis had also retired. A pity because both had good seasons, Lewis in particular seemed to find his position at CHB and was really consistent. Marcus has been a good player for a couple of years, but didn't play as well this season as he has in the past. Matt Jenkins played all year in the ressies. His brother Anthony had a really bad injury very early in the season and didn't play for most of the year. He already missed a season a couple of years ago with serious knee injury. Haven't heard anything about him since the season finished so can't add anything further. His injury really left us without a ruckman from then on. Spiteri has plenty of talent, won a couple of junior B&F and was 3rd in B&F in the U19 Div a couple of years ago. Signs up and then there is always a reason why he can't play. Was working on Saturdays this year. I guess you don't make much from footy if you hardly play.

i'd be more worried about your '19's....numbers are low and you've lost a good under 19's coach, has he been replaced?

 

[magpies2013]

Strong top 5 or 6 and garbage bottom three I think

Top half probably wouldn't be out of place in Premier

Montrose bonkers, if they have got McLaughlin too then they should be faves

Boronia very good with more additions

Park Orchards don't look to have really picked up anybody, but I think have retained so should be strong again.

Silence out of North Ringwood but if they don't lose any will be strong again.

Mitcham retained their squad and picked up a couple, but I think they will need something more to really compete - need to fill that key forward hole. They're touting a big announcement tonight so maybe they have!

Wantirna South a bit unknown but have picked up a couple incl a ready-made star in Wong, so could go alright. They'll be in no danger of relegation due to what is below them.

Beaconsfield looks like there's unrest there, they will tumble you'd think. Have lost their coach and key players. But again, doubt they'll be in relegation trouble.

Mooroolbark, Bayswater and Norwood look like they'll be shit again and will fight out relegation - Norwood have picked up a couple which should even up that fight. Mooroolbark have a couple but are still a very long way off the top half of this very strong division, think they'll be fodder again.

Div1 next year looks like it’s going to be a bit of a borefest and overall don’t think the standard is that great..In the past Div 1 has always been one of the most competitive where if you weren’t at your best you could get knocked off by a bottom side, but I’ve never seen it before where there is going to be such a big gap between the top 5 and bottom 5.Yes it’s still only November and there might be some more recruits announced but most clubs start training in the next few weeks so I don’t expect there to be many more big recruits changing clubs soon.
Park Orchards,Montrose,Boronia,Mitcham and North Ringwood will be top 5.Beacy have lost too much quality but will be safe, Wantirna Sth a fair way off the top 5 and Bayswater Mooroolbark and Norwood really are Div 2 standard clubs.

 

[adock]

Div1 next year looks like it’s going to be a bit of a borefest and overall don’t think the standard is that great..In the past Div 1 has always been one of the most competitive where if you weren’t at your best you could get knocked off by a bottom side, but I’ve never seen it before where there is going to be such a big gap between the top 5 and bottom 5.Yes it’s still only November and there might be some more recruits announced but most clubs start training in the next few weeks so I don’t expect there to be many more big recruits changing clubs soon.
Park Orchards,Montrose,Boronia,Mitcham and North Ringwood will be top 5.Beacy have lost too much quality but will be safe, Wantirna Sth a fair way off the top 5 and Bayswater Mooroolbark and Norwood really are Div 2 standard clubs.

This isn't new though. Bayswater haven't looked like a Div 1 club for a long time but they always seem to find a worse club each year, but they have been paddling. Doncaster going into recess didn't help as it saved Norwood. I don't think Mooroolbark are quite where Norwood and Baysy are but they are in no mans land. Beacy is bleak, they could end up being another Norwood this season.

 

[localfootylegend23]

This isn't new though. Bayswater haven't looked like a Div 1 club for a long time but they always seem to find a worse club each year, but they have been paddling. Doncaster going into recess didn't help as it saved Norwood. I don't think Mooroolbark are quite where Norwood and Baysy are but they are in no mans land. Beacy is bleak, they could end up being another Norwood this season.

Moving to the SFNL would fix beacy up fast. And berwick.

 

[magpies2013]

Moving to the SFNL would fix beacy up fast. And berwick.

Definitely where they belong now. Get to play all their local rivals from the past. Don’t blame them for moving to Eastern as the oefnl was a joke for them and they had nowhere else to go but it suits them so much better to be in Southern now. They have both done well, Beacy have been more then competitive in Div 1 next year might be different though. Berwick lost a lot of players when they 1st moved across and a lot of Eastern people said they will get smashed and relegated. 5 years later they are still in premier and all though they haven’t made finals yet they seem to be getting better every year.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Div1 next year looks like it’s going to be a bit of a borefest and overall don’t think the standard is that great..In the past Div 1 has always been one of the most competitive where if you weren’t at your best you could get knocked off by a bottom side, but I’ve never seen it before where there is going to be such a big gap between the top 5 and bottom 5.Yes it’s still only November and there might be some more recruits announced but most clubs start training in the next few weeks so I don’t expect there to be many more big recruits changing clubs soon.
Park Orchards,Montrose,Boronia,Mitcham and North Ringwood will be top 5.Beacy have lost too much quality but will be safe, Wantirna Sth a fair way off the top 5 and Bayswater Mooroolbark and Norwood really are Div 2 standard clubs.

Yeah was a very even division traditionally but things have changed, looks like probably 14-15 clubs at the moment who could probably compete in Premier which means a more even top division and more lopsided D1. With the way they’re performing and recruiting you would think Boronia, Montrose, Park Orchards and North Ringwood could compete in Premier at the moment while the bottom sides in D1 are miles off it.

Having said that as Norwood and Mitcham have shown it’s pretty fragile. Norwood have sunk like a stone while Mitcham only lost a couple of players and it seems to have cost them any chance of being competitive in Premier.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

The interesting one for me is Montrose, with the way they’ve recruited this year you would almost say Ayres was maybe holding them back. He was said to be on enormous money which at local level you’re far better putting into players which it would look like they’ve done.

 

[Shootfromthehip]

The interesting one for me is Montrose, with the way they’ve recruited this year you would almost say Ayres was maybe holding them back. He was said to be on enormous money which at local level you’re far better putting into players which it would look like they’ve done.

Ayres holding them back ? Why don’t you go and look at their results pre Ayres . They were horrible.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Ayres holding them back ? Why don’t you go and look at their results pre Ayres . They were horrible.

Is it a coincidence they’ve recruited all these players the year that he leaves? With what he was supposedly being paid?

I think it’s probably freed up a fair bit of cash.

 

[cromball90]

The interesting one for me is Montrose, with the way they’ve recruited this year you would almost say Ayres was maybe holding them back. He was said to be on enormous money which at local level you’re far better putting into players which it would look like they’ve done.

get what you’re saying but the big names he’d bring in to sportsman’s luncheons etc which would generate a shit load of cash, almost just pays his contract

 

[Voice of the G]

Yeah was a very even division traditionally but things have changed, looks like probably 14-15 clubs at the moment who could probably compete in Premier which means a more even top division and more lopsided D1. With the way they’re performing and recruiting you would think Boronia, Montrose, Park Orchards and North Ringwood could compete in Premier at the moment while the bottom sides in D1 are miles off it.

Having said that as Norwood and Mitcham have shown it’s pretty fragile. Norwood have sunk like a stone while Mitcham only lost a couple of players and it seems to have cost them any chance of being competitive in Premier.

You are being a little harsh on Mitcham,s performances in Premier 2025.Lost 8 games by under 10 points.Injuries hurt them and a lot of their young senior players also were missing due to playing TAC games with Rangers and Chargers and even VFL.

 

[Bobby Beecroft]

Is it a coincidence they’ve recruited all these players the year that he leaves? With what he was supposedly being paid?

I think it’s probably freed up a fair bit of cash.

So they were paying below their cap when Ayres was there?
& now can suddenly afford to pay up to the cap?
I’m not so sure.

 

[Shootfromthehip]

Is it a coincidence they’ve recruited all these players the year that he leaves? With what he was supposedly being paid?

I think it’s probably freed up a fair bit of cash.

I think you will find the new coach wouldnt be getting much less than Ayres . Do some research on the clubs history with payments. You might be surprised .

 

[Bunk Moreland]

So they were paying below their cap when Ayres was there?
& now can suddenly afford to pay up to the cap?
I’m not so sure.

Obviously the cap is irrelevant for them. Talking more about what the can afford.

I think you will find the new coach wouldnt be getting much less than Ayres . Do some research on the clubs history with payments. You might be surprised .

Just putting 2 and 2 together and possibly getting 5. But find it hard to think there wouldn’t be a link with Ayres supposedly getting $60k plus and now McLaughlin supposedly coming in on a similar figure.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

You are being a little harsh on Mitcham,s performances in Premier 2025.Lost 8 games by under 10 points.Injuries hurt them and a lot of their young senior players also were missing due to playing TAC games with Rangers and Chargers and even VFL.

That’s my point, I think most would’ve picked them to be pretty competitive in Premier, I certainly did. They went 1-17, just shows it’s fragile and doesn’t take much for it to go wrong.

 

[Mynamesinuse]

Is it a coincidence they’ve recruited all these players the year that he leaves? With what he was supposedly being paid?

I think it’s probably freed up a fair bit of cash.

Perfect storm.
Croydon are on the nose.
Montrose coach pretty well connected.
Ayres not much chop at local level.

 

[good thing]

Yeah was a very even division traditionally but things have changed, looks like probably 14-15 clubs at the moment who could probably compete in Premier which means a more even top division and more lopsided D1. With the way they’re performing and recruiting you would think Boronia, Montrose, Park Orchards and North Ringwood could compete in Premier at the moment while the bottom sides in D1 are miles off it.

Having said that as Norwood and Mitcham have shown it’s pretty fragile. Norwood have sunk like a stone while Mitcham only lost a couple of players and it seems to have cost them any chance of being competitive in Premier.

Definitely where they belong now. Get to play all their local rivals from the past. Don’t blame them for moving to Eastern as the oefnl was a joke for them and they had nowhere else to go but it suits them so much better to be in Southern now. They have both done well, Beacy have been more then competitive in Div 1 next year might be different though. Berwick lost a lot of players when they 1st moved across and a lot of Eastern people said they will get smashed and relegated. 5 years later they are still in premier and all though they haven’t made finals yet they seem to be getting better every year.

Berwick will make finals next year
Have recruited about as well as anyone in premier. I hope they go well

 

[good thing]

You are being a little harsh on Mitcham,s performances in Premier 2025.Lost 8 games by under 10 points.Injuries hurt them and a lot of their young senior players also were missing due to playing TAC games with Rangers and Chargers and even VFL.

They were never up to it
Mitcham is a good Division 1 club

 

[thommo_legend]

They were never up to it
Mitcham is a good Division 1 club

Missed a lot of players from their premiership side, if they had the exact same team they wouldve been 6th to 8th

 

[localfootylegend23]

Missed a lot of players from their premiership side, if they had the exact same team they wouldve been 6th to 8th

Woulda Shoulda Coulda but didn't

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Berwick will make finals next year
Have recruited about as well as anyone in premier. I hope they go well

Just had a look, they certainly have recruited strongly with a view to getting Berwick guns back. They’re a likely improver.