As we countdown to the 2016 WRFL season, we look at what’s making news at your club, including player signings, coaching appointments and pre-season start dates.
Albanvale
Pre-season begins on November 17 at Robert Bruce Reserve.
Albion
Albion stalwart Aaron Tymms will once again lead the club’s young senior team in 2016 after being re-appointed as head coach. Having played more than 400 games for the Cats, Tymms will enter his third consecutive season in the top job.
Tymms was recently awarded life membership of the Albion Football Club.
Albion has announced host of players has signed on with the club in 2016. Josh Bench, Troy Kelm, Jeremy Mills, James Taylor, Kym Taylor and Hamzah Ali have all joined the club.
The Cats have announced Jake Savage has returned to the club.
Altona
Altona has announced Saade Ghazi has signed a two year coaching contract with the club. A highly decorated coach and former player, Saade brings a wealth of experience to Altona both on and off the field.
Braybrook
Braybrook has announced Jamie Lane as their new senior coach for 2016. Ricky Charles will be the Bombers’ reserves coach.
Caroline Springs
Caroline Springs landed one of the biggest signings during the pre-season, landing three-time Hawthorn premiership player Brian Lake. Lake has played more than 200 AFL games, has won a Norm Smith medal and been a two-time All-Australian. Jase Degabriele put pen to paper, committing to the Lakers for the next three season. Degabriele has also committed to being the under-17’s coach in 2016. Mathew Sutton from the Ballarat Football Netball League has signed on with Caroline Springs for 2016. The former Melton South coach announced his retirement from football earlier this year, but had a change of heart and decided to pull on the boots once again. Matt Chapman has also joined Caroline Springs. Chapman has played with the Murray Bushrangers, he is an inter-league representative, club leading goal kicker and best and fairest winner. He also spent time playing with the Bendigo Bombers, Heidelberg and Numurkah.
Deer Park
It has been a busy off-season for the three-time Division One champions, with the club announcing a host of big name recruits for 2016. None bigger than premier forward Brendan Fevola. Fevola comes to the club from the Yarrawonga Pigeons, where he kicked 332 goals in 67 games. Former Geelong premiership player and Melbourne star Shannon Byrnes also joins the club. Jason Kennedy from the Heidelberg Football Club also joins Deer Park. He is a best and fairest winner, premiership player and in the Tigers’ team of the decade. Adam El Houli comes to the club from Aberfeldie and Tim Sullivan makes the switch from St Kilda City.
Mark Bullen will also be staying on as the senior’s playing coach for another season. He coached the club to a record premiership win against Werribee Districts in 2015. Andrew Bryson and Pat Christofi have been re-appointed coaches of their Reserves and Under-18 teams respectively.
Glen Orden
Pre-season begins on November 11.
Hoppers Crossing
Steve Kretiuk has been re-appointed as the senior coach for next season. His senior assistants will be Brian Gray, Glen McGaw, John Costa and Peter Calyvopoulos.
David Taylor will be the reserves coach, his assistants will be Ashley Dumesny and Ignazio Cataldo.
Alan Williams has been appointed Hoppers Crossing under-19 coach for 2016.
Pre-season will begin on November 11.
Manor Lakes
The Manor Lakes Football Club has announced Aaron Bradley as their new senior coach for 2016. Bradley has had recent coaching stints in the GDFL and also in the USA. Joining him will be Tazzie Petterwood who played at North Albury and most recently Sunbury. Scott Caton also joins the club, he was also from the GDFL. Max de Groot will coach the Reserves team. Scott Parker has also joined its coaching team. Parker’s previous coaching experience includes coaching Werribee’s under-18 and under-19 teams. He was also a playing coach in the Murray League and Kerang and District League. The club will be hosting a ‘Meet the Coach BBQ’ at their club rooms on November 13 at 6.30pm.
Andrew Richards has also been appointed the as the Senior Woman's coach for 2016.
Newport Power
FORMER Hawthorn premiership star Mark Williams has been appointed Newport Power’s inaugural senior coach. The Power will be fielding a senior side in the WRFL’s Division Three competition in 2016, with the sharpshooter committing to the club in a playing coach role.
Pre-season begins November 23.
North Footscray
North Footscray has announced a host of players has signed on with the club for the 2016 season.
Kieran Reynolds has joined the club. Kieran comes to the club from the Huonville Lions in Tasmania. He is a big bodied backman who is really excited to be joining the club.
Nathaniel Richardson will be back at North Footscray in 2016. Richardson won North's 2009, 2011 and 2012 Best and Fairests. He was a part of the 2010 premiership team. Recently, Richardson played at Melton Centrals where he won the 2014 Best and Fairest.
Former Werribee Centrals and Hoppers Crossing midfielder Brayden Montebruno will play with the club. Tyren Montebruno has also put pen to paper. He was the captain at Werribee Centrals this season and has also played with Hoppers Crossing. Young gun Brodhi Green has also made the switch from Manor Lakes to North Footscray. Mathew Smith will play for the red and white in 2016, he comes to the club from the Maribyrnong Park Football Club. Former premiership player Daniel Neville will make his return to the club next year. The club is excited to have him back on board. He has spent the past three years playing with East Keilor. Alex Ford comes to the club from Werribee Centrals. Johnny Bell also comes to the club. He recently played with Cohuna and was a premiership player with Marby Park. Joel Richardson will make his return to North Footscray in 2016. He played his junior football at the club and will return next season after stints at Melton Centrals and Deer Park.
Pre-season begins on November 30.
North Sunshine
The North Sunshine committee has announced Joe Larizza as its senior coach for 2016. It is the third year he has led the senior group. Andrew Steele has been appointed the Reserves coach. The club’s first training session will be on November 9.
Parkside
Nick Condos has been appointed coach of Parkside's senior team in 2016. He is a life-member of the Magpies and coached the club to its last WRFL premiership 12 years ago.
Point Cook
Point Cook’s academy is on for another year. For more information about how to get involved visit their website.
Sanctuary Lakes
Lee Spry was appointed coach of the senior team. Spry was a former player at North Footscray.
Pre-season begins on November 9 at the Alamanda Footy Oval.
Spotswood
The Spotswood Football Club will begin their 2016 campaign on November 19 when pre-season training begins. The side will feature some new faces, with a few recruits set to be unveiled in the coming weeks. More than 28 senior aged players have already put pen to paper for 2016, with several more to be announced when training resumes.
St. Albans
St. Albans have appointed Fabian Carelli as its new senior, non-playing coach for the 2016 season. He is a former Collingwood under-19 captain and reserves grade player who has played more than 300 games across a number of different competitions. In 2015 he was a senior assistant/midfield coach at De La Salle in the VAFA.
Sunshine Heights
The Sunshine Heights Football Club has announced Robert Greto will again be the senior coach for 2016. His assistant will be Matthew Scalzo.
Frank Martin is the newly appointed reserves coach as is his assistant Matthew Camelleri.
Pre-season will begin on November 23 at Talintyre Reserve in Sunshine.
Tarneit
Tarneit has appointed its coaches for 2016, with Mark Elso taking the senior role and Cameron Evans the reserves coach. Senior training will begin on November 23.
Werribee Districts
Geelong premiership player Paul Chapman has been unveiled as Werribee’s new senior coach. The AFL champion, who recently retired from the Essendon Football Club, will take over the reigns as coach. It is unknown if Chapman will play any games.
The club has also announced Josh Huxtable and Matt Taylor would be joining the Tigers in 2016.
Darron Batties will coach the under-19A team and Johnny Singarella will take the helm of the under-19B team.
Pre-season training will begin on November 24 at 6.15pm at Soldiers Reserve.
West Footscray
The Roosters have announced Nick Diker as their senior coach for 2016.
The former Glen Orden premiership coach took two years off from coach, but has decided to throw his hat back in the ring and coach again.
Hayden Bray has signed on to the Roosters for another season. Scott Lobb has committed to the club in 2016. He will be a playing assistant coach. The Roosters have also announced John Zangari will be playing for the club. Zangari is a two-time premiership player with Glen Orden. Division two leading goal kicker Munir El Houli has re-signed with club for another season. His brother Khaled El Houli is a new addition to the club. He comes West Footscray from Division One club Sunshine. Sanctuary Lakes youngster William Dinan has joined the club. Dinan was named in the best on 10 occasions this season, which included four best on ground performances. Danny Hutcheson, also from Sanctuary Lakes, has committed to club. Defender and back-up ruckman Travis Browne has re-signed. Andrew Pickles from Glen Orden has committed to the Roosters as has Aaron Diker. Runner-up in their club best and fairest award Steve McAnulty has committed to the club for 2016.
Pre-season begins November 23.
Williamstown Juniors
Season 2016 will see the introduction of the Williamstown Juniors Academy program. The program aims to give all players of the 2016 season, from under-13s through to under-15s, the opportunity to develop their football skills under specialized football coaching in a fun and positive environment. The academy will be overseen and run by the club’s Director of Coaching Mat Montebello and Coaching Coordinator Ben Kelly. The program will run over a total of eight 75 minuite sessions. Participants will also be handed individualized programs over the course of the summer break to support their ongoing development. For more information email
directorcoaching@williamstownjuniors.com.au
Wyndham Suns
Pre-season begins on November 16 at 6pm.
Wyndhamvale
On the back of first senior flag, the Falcons have announced a number of it's key players have signed on to play with the club next season.
The Falcons have announced the brother of premiership captain Chris Graham, Brian Graham has signed on with the club in 2016.
At just 23 years of age, Brian has had a decorated career, claiming a record three best and fairest awards in the North Gippsland Football League.
He was also named in the team of the year on multiple occasions, a three time club best and fairest winner, twice leading goal kicker and club captain.
"I'm super excited about signing on with the Falcons," Brian said.
"I was down to watch a few games this year including the grand final and just really loved the culture around the club, on and off the field.
"Obviously division one is a big step up but I'm really excited for the challenge."
Tyler Tessari, Chris Jones, Alex Hamilton, Kieran Morrison, James Damjanovski and Noa Fonua, who was named best on ground in their premiership win, are all staying at the nest next year. Chris Benson, ruckman Nathan Reschke and on-baller Devan Ellis have also re-committed.
Troy Beamond has been announced as coach, while Jamie Cowlishaw and Craig Prior will be co-coaches for their Division One reserves team for 2016. Andrew Spinks will be the under-19 coach.
Pre-season begins November 11.
VFL News
Three former WRFL juniors have signed on to play with premiers Williamstown. Altona’s Mitch Norton, who played a Division One game in 2015, former Werribee Districts youngster Brayden Monk and Yarraville Seddon Eagles’ rising star Lachlan Knight have all been given the chance to play with the Seagulls next season.
Last Modified on 20/11/2015 12:51