2019 & 2020 Player Movements and News Thread

[Ljp86]

Ljp86, Swans update:

OUT: Jarrad Blight, Matt Rogers
IN: Jesse Glass-McCasker

Thanks again, Noobz0r.

 

[Ishikawa]

Kade Stewart a good return for the Bulldogs, be interesting to see if he is keen to give the AFL a crack again.

Had a good start with the Hawks - clearly could play, but reports I heard are that he lost a fair bit of passion for intense lifestyle (and probably being a long way from home too didn't help). Wonder if like Jono Marsh some time off and back at home has reinvigorated him.

 

[Freezin]

Ex Cl and Collingwood player Abbott has popped up at WP

 

[Grav]

South Fremantle has signed strong midfielder Michael Coombes for 2yrs.
Have been following him last 6mths, looks the goods.

 

[Freezin]

Kody Manning has signed for EF from WP

 

[Ljp86]

- Delisted Fremantle player Brady Grey is being chased by four WAFL clubs with South Fremantle leading the race for Grey's signature while East Fremantle, Peel Thunder and Swan Districts have all shown an interest in signing the midfielder. Grey is expected to remain in WA should he not be picked up in the coming AFL National Draft and Rookie Draft.
- West Perth forward Kody Manning will play with East Fremantle in 2019. Manning said his decision on where to play next season depended on the fate of former West Perth and now East Fremantle coach Bill Monaghan.
- In better news for the Falcons, they've signed former Collingwood and Claremont product Brenden Abbott. Abbott last played in the WAFL in 2014 before being picked up by Collingwood in the rookie draft.
- Peel Thunder are a strong chance to sign former Essendon midfielder Jackson Merrett with the former Bomber spending some time in WA to meet with Thunder officials. Merrett is believed to be seriously considering the offer with former Bombers' teammate and good friend Ben Howlett currently at the club. Peel Thunder will also have to wait until after both drafts have been held in order to sign Merrett but their seventh place finish in 2018 means they can recruit up to two former AFL players for next season.
- West Perth midfielder Luke Meadows will wait until after the coming AFL drafts before deciding on his playing future. It's believed he has spoken to some clubs although Meadows has not tested at a combine since 2016.
- West Coast Eagles have signed their first reserves' side player with Daniel Acres set to play with the club in 2019. Acres was believed to have signed with East Perth but the Eagles will submit a clearance for Acres this week from his current club Cervantes in the Central Midlands Coastal Football League.
- Andrew Strijk will play at West Perth in 2019 and is expected to sign with the club in the coming days. It's believed the loss to Subiaco in the Grand Final this season motivated Strijk to play on for another season but would have retired had the Falcons won the WAFL decider. Fellow teammates Jay van Berlo and Steven Potente remain undecided on their plans for next season but Sam Rotham has returned to the club for the next two seasons after spending some time playing country football.
- East Perth have recruited former Falcon Matthew Johnson who returns to the WAFL after having last played in 2016.

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

https://thewest.com.au/sport/clarem...claremont-for-2019-wafl-season-ng-b881032341z

Declan Mountford returning to Claremont after being delisted by North

https://thewest.com.au/sport/west-c...grey-become-a-west-coast-eagle-ng-b881032854z

West Coast reserves entering the race for Brady Grey, believed to be frontrunners along with the Sharks.

Article also says Matthew Rogers will return to Perth from Swan Districts, and a number of clubs are chasing Perth's superboot Cody Leggett despite being under contract and a "required player".

 

[Ljp86]

- Former West Perth defender Luke Tedesco will coach South Fremantle's Colts in 2019. Tedesco is one of three new coaches at Colts level next season with Mick Glassborrow to take charge of Peel Thunder while Chayce Creedy will coach Subiaco's Colts side. Swan Districts are still without a coach for their Colts team with one expected to be announced soon.
- Luke Strnadica is back at East Fremantle after two seasons as a rookie with Fremantle in the AFL. Strnadica's deal will see him stay at Shark Park for at least the next two seasons after playing at East Fremantle before being drafted as a rookie two seasons ago. It's believed Strnadica also had offers from East Perth and Subiaco as well as three other clubs but chose to sign at his original WAFL side. The Sharks are also interested in former Docker Brady Grey and lead the race to sign former player Harry Marsh who was delisted by Sydney after the completion of the AFL season.
- East Fremantle have lured Claremont midfielder Morgan Davies to the club for 2019. Davies heads to Shark Park seeking more opportunity and looks set to play as an outside midfielder next season.
- West Coast will be limited to one $25,000 player, two $500 per game players with other players earning a maximum of $350 per game under new WAFL rules regarding their new WAFL side. The rules are aimed at making the Eagles competitive during their first season as a standalone WAFL club and were finalised after talks between the Eagles, the WAFC and the other WAFL clubs in a series of meetings over the past two months. They will also be able to gain access to player in nine categories including: former Eagles players interstate, other one-time AFL interstate players, father-son and next generation academy picks — pending application to the WAFC, interstate State league payers, players on a WAFL club’s 41-55 list (two per WAFL club), delisted Eagles who have played AFL for the club for more than six years, and on loan from WAFL clubs to be returned to the club at the end of a season. The Eagles squad will be limited via points with the club allowed a maximum of 60 points to cover 15 players. Other WAFL clubs are allowed 120 points while Peel Thunder's alignment with Fremantle sees themlimited to 90 points.
- Declan Mountford will play at Claremont in 2019, returning to the Tigers after being delisted by North Melbourne after 12 AFL games over three seasons.
- West Coast's WAFL side has joined the race to sign former Fremantle midfielder Brady Grey. Grey was delisted by Fremantle in September but was overlooked in the recent national and rookie drafts. It's believed East Fremantle are also in the mix for Grey who played a total of 21 games in five seasons before being delisted.
- East Fremantle and Swan Districts are in talks with Perth's Cody Leggett despite the long-kicking midfielder signing a two year contract extension. Perth have said that Leggett is a required player in 2019 having already resumed pre-season training with the Demons.
- Matthew Rogers looks set to return to Perth for 2019 after having played 126 games in six seasons with Swan Districts.
- West Coast could recruit John Worsfold's nephew Jacob Green, after holding talks with the former East Fremantle player. Green played 14 league games with the Sharks but spent the last two seasons playing country and amateur football, including kicking four goals in Fremantle CBC's WAAFL A Grade Grand Final loss to Scarborough. The Sharks are also believed to be interested in recruiting Green back to the club who won the Jack Clarke Medal of the WAFL's Best and Fairest Colts player in 2013. The Eagles have also inquired about Subiaco midfielder Travis Cleggett who won the Lions' reserves best and fairest in 2018 along with winning the Reserves' premiership.
- West Coast have signed six players for their WAFL side in 2019 with Joel Ashman and Liam Robilliard (Scarborough), Joel Kalajzic (East Fremantle), Luke Salomone (Perth), Daniel Acres (Cervates) and Andrew Fisher (Kingsley) signing with the club.
- Mitch Andrews could return to the WAFL after one season playing country football with Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault. Andrews retired from the WAFL at the end of 2017 but has been approached by former club Claremont, Perth, Subiaco and West Perth about returning to WAFL ranks for 2019. Andrews was confident his body could withstand a season in the WAFL but was unsure if he had the time to commit to playing in the competition.
- Jack Bradshaw is back at Claremont for next season having played 93 league games for the Tigers.
- East Perth have recruited Angus Scott for next season. Scott, a Victorian, played the last two VFL Grand Finals with Casey Demons, Melbourne's VFL affiliate.
- After being overlooked in the national and rookie drafts, West Perth midfielder Luke Meadows has signed with Box Hill Hawks in the VFL. Meadows says the move is more about "personal growth" and would return back to the Falcons should he were to play in the WAFL in the future.
- Former Chief Justice Wayne Martin will contest for the WAFC board alongside other candidates Paul Rosair and Elizabeth Re after the unexpected retirement of Jon Carson. Current chairman Murray McHenry is set to remain as chairman for another year.
- Former Perth champion Bob Shields will contest for the Demons' presidency this month as part of a bid to put an end to the Demons' on-field struggles over the last two decades. The Demons are in a strong financial position, with $450,000 in their Centurions' fund but have not played finals for 21 years, a record finals drought for any club. Former defender Chris Billings, who was deregistered by the WAFL in 2015 after accruing suspensions of more than 16 matches will also run for the board.
- Zac Clarke has officially signed with Essendon for 2019, joining the Bombers as part of the AFL's new pre-season supplemental selection period.

 

[andana]

Jackson Merrett to peeel

 

[FitzroyPete]

Jackson Merrett to peeel

Thanks for your regular WAFL updates, Ljp86.
East Perth has recruited former West Perth midfielder Rohan Kerr.

 

[Ljp86]

- East Perth has signed former West Perth midfielder Rohan Kerr. Kerr has spent the last two seasons with Pinjarra in the Peel Football League and will play with the Royals in 2019.
- West Coast Eagles have signed former South Fremantle player Matthew Ah Siu who spent last season in the WAAFL with Bullcreek-Leeming in C1 Grade winning their Best and Fairest award.
- Peel Thunder have secured former Essendon midfielder Jackson Merrett, the older brother of Zach Merrett. Merrett played 57 games in seven seasons with the Bombers before being delisted at the end of the 2018 season. Peel's seventh placed finish means they are able to sign two former AFL listed players with the permission of the WAFC but had to wait until both the national draft and rookie drafts were complete as per the WAFL recruitment rules before signing Merrett.
- Peel Thunder's home ground will be known as David Grays Arena in 2019 after signing a naming rights deal with David Grays Aglink. David Grays replaces former naming rights sponsor Bendigo Bank Halls Head which had named the ground as Bendigo Bank Stadium. The Halls Head branch of Bendigo Bank will remain as a platinum partner with the club.
- West Perth has resigned Dean Munns for another season. Munns has been in discussions with Perth but has decided to remain with the Falcons. The Falcons have also resigned Mitchell Pierce, Ben King, Mark Hamilton and Tyson Moulton.
- Perth have signed three players with Matt Rogers and Gordon Narrier returning to the club while Chris Bryan has moved to the Demons after spending the last four years with Subiaco. Rogers has spent the last six years at Swan Districts but returns to the club he debuted for in 2010 on a three year deal. Narrier is back at the club after spending a year at North Melbourne after being drafted in 2017 while Bryan comes to the Demons wanting more opportunity after playing 24 league games in four years at Subiaco. Should Bryan debut for the Demons he will be a third generation player with his father and grandfather having both played at the club.

 

[masai]

Thanks Ljp86, darn good summary.

Scratching my grey hairs trying to remember the Bryan clan at the Demons.

It was noted earlier that Bob Shields was putting his hand up to lift the Demons out of their two decade lethargy, ………. maths was never Bob's strong point, he should try 40 years ( four decades ) of lethargy !!!. More of people like Lofts, Couper & Cooks X 2, might get them going in the right direction, .........…. plus scare the bejeesus out of $ubi players.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Bryan's stats make for some very uninspiring reading. Is there anything there?

 

[Freezin]

Be interesting to see how Bryan goes in a weaker side....pretty easy to hide in that Subi side of late....with so many gooduns around you making the lesser lights look good....

 

[Ljp86]

- Harry Marsh will play with Subiaco next season with the signing to be announced as early as tomorrow. The Lions fought off South Fremantle and Marsh's former club East Fremantle for his signature after being delisted from Sydney in October. Marsh played 25 games with the Swans, including nine in each of his past two seasons after being drafted in 2012. He also played three finals for the Swans in 2016 but was dropped for the Grand Final.
- Jonathan Marsh, the younger brother of Harry is headed to the VFL having signed with Richmond's VFL team for 2019.
- Cameron Sutcliffe is headed to the SANFL next season, having signed with Port Adelaide for the next two seasons. Sutcliffe played 104 games with Fremantle but was delisted in September and has decided to head back to his home state. It's believed several WAFL and SANFL clubs competed for Sutcliffe's signature, including his former SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens.

 

[Noobz0r]

How does Subiaco keep doing it?

 

[Spearhead]

How does Subiaco keep doing it?

$$$$$$$$$....and the green light to never have their real salary cap checked!

 

[Ljp86]

- West Coast are favourites to secure the signature of ex-Fremantle midfielder Brady Grey who was delisted in September after 21 games in five seasons at AFL level. Perth are believed to be in the race to secure Grey's signature but Swan Districts and East Fremantle were informed they were out of contention earlier this week. Grey is expected to make a call on his future sometime during next week.
- The WAFL has released its fixtures for 2019 with the season to begin in April for the first time since 2000. The 2019 season will be played over 20 rounds with each club to play 18 matches with Round One commencing on 6 April. West Coast Eagles will play all their matches as away games but will have the opportunity to buy back games subject to opposition and WAFC approval. The Eagles' first game is against Perth at Lathlain Park and that match will be telecast live on 7mate. The season itself will have a strong flavour of traditional Saturday afternoon matches with 77 of 90 fixtures to be played on a Saturday afternoon. Other highlights include Easter Round in Round Three with matches to be played on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, a match on ANZAC Day, the State game on 11 or 12 May against the SANFL, the traditional WA Day public holiday matches in June and NAIDOC Round matches in Round 13.
- Former Fremantle goalsneak Josh Simpson could make a comeback to the WAFL and is in discussions with Perth and Swan Districts about returning to state league ranks. Simpson has spent the last two seasons in the Great Northern Football League winning premierships with Mullewa and Brigades respectively. Simpson was originally drafted to Fremantle in 2012 but was delisted in 2014 despite having a year to run on his contract. Simpson last played in the WAFL in 2016 with East Fremantle but left the Sharks after being given a second internal suspension by the club after failing to attend a compulsory recovery session.

 

[Freezin]

Not sure why Perth would want Simpson....they have a plethora of small forwards already like Bennell, Ninyette and Narrier....Simpson would be better off at SD if anything....hopefully the guy has matured some what....

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

George Hampson has been let got by East Fremantle due to “creative differences” with the new coach. That’s a phrase more commonly used to explain why a band has sacked their junkie guitarist, but I for one welcome its transference into the footy realm.

Anyway, surely there’s a queue of teams lining up to sign Hampson, even with questions over his attitude.

 

[Freezin]

For the wooden spooners to "let go" their Best & Fairest, after such a dismal season, surely suggests something a amiss .....no i in team....well Monaghans team it seems....gotta feeling more then a few of the EF boys were more then happy with the decision to let the fella go.....

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

For the wooden spooners to "let go" their Best & Fairest, after such a dismal season, surely suggests something a amiss .....no i in team....well Monaghans team it seems....gotta feeling more then a few of the EF boys were more then happy with the decision to let the fella go.....

Quote from Monaghan: "The culture we want to build and the behaviours and work rate of the players that I am expecting isn’t mirrored with what George wants to do at this stage of his career"

https://thewest.com.au/sport/wafl/east-fremantle-sack-lynn-medallist-george-hampson-ng-b881044775z

 

[Freezin]

Perhaps George wanted a later start to his preseason compared to everyone else....Seems like the previous coach may of been a soft touch compared to the new boy on the EF coaching block...

 

[Ljp86]

- East Fremantle and George Hampson have parted ways with the reigning Lynn Medallist told by Bill Monaghan his services were no longer required because of "creative differences". It's the second time Hampson has departed a WAFL club in controversial circumstances with the midfielder leaving Subiaco in late 2014 after a rift between he, then coach Jarrad Schofield and the club's football department. It's believed up to 20 players have been cut from the Sharks' list in order to overhaul the club's culture.
- Plans to move one of the matches between West Coast and Peel Thunder to Perth Stadium have reached a deadlock with West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett saying it was too expensive to get one of the two matches during the season moved to the new stadium. The Eagles have been discussions with multiple WAFL clubs to move matches to either Burswood or their new training base at Lathlain Park but TV logistical issues and other practical and financial problems have caused further concerns. The WAFC have also said there is no limit to how many games are moved to either of those venues during the 2019 season.
- West Coast Eagles will officially be known as West Coast and their moniker of the "Eagles" in the WAFL next season but will not be able to wear their traditional primarily blue jumper and will instead have to wear their gold clash guernsey during matches.
- Former Fremantle player Brady Grey has signed with West Coast's WAFL team for 2019. Grey played 21 games at AFL level but spent time on the sidelines with various injury concerns and was delisted in September after five seasons with Fremantle. Grey said his decision to sign with the Eagles was in his opinion the best opportunity to get back onto an AFL list and a chance to grow his leadership skills.
- West Coast are targeting a finals berth in the WAFL next season attributing winning to playing a part in the development of its players at reserves level. The reserves team also making finals offered a chance for players on the fringes of the team could play somewhere should the senior being playing finals during September.

 

[Noobz0r]

Swans have signed former Fremantle player Josh Simpson Ljp86