Yarraville Seddon has received a massive boost early in the Western Football League division 1 off season, signing former GWS and Collingwood player Will Hoskin-Elliott.
The Eagles announced the signing of Hoskin Elliott at their best and fairest awards night on Saturday night.
Hoskin-Elliott retired from AFL at the end of this season, having played 242 AFL games including the 2023 premiership.
Eagles coach Brad Julier said it was a massive outcome for the club.
“We’re pretty happy with that,” he said. “He lives locally and when Trav [Varcoe] played here a couple of years ago, he would come down and watch.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on him and when he was hanging up the boots. He was keen to still play and thought he had a few years left in him.”
Hoskin-Elliott started his football career in the Western league, having played his juniors with North Sunshine.
His first ever game in under-10s was at Yarraville Oval.
Jullier said Hoskin-Elliott’s experience would be the biggest thing for the club.
“We’ll look to draw on that,” he said. “He played 240-something games and played in a premiership.
“His experience on ground he’ll be like an on ground coach and ability wise we think he still has a lot to offer.”
Hoskin-Elliott will have no official coaching role, having signed on as just a player.
Julier said they would look to move Hoskin-Elliott around having played at both ends of the ground at AFL level.
He was also initially drafted as a midfielder.
Julier said the reaction had been massive with everyone excited about it.
The coach said Hoskin-Elliott fell into the type of player they were looking to add for next season, someone with experience.
The Eagles fell just short of making the grand final this year.
“We knew we needed a little bit of experience to help fast track on field development,” Julier said.
