Tara Murray
Williamstown has sought to add some more depth to its list for next year’s Victorian Football League season.
The Seagulls have managed to keep their core group together while adding a number of players with AFL-list experience.
Seagulls’ Jeff Andrews said depth was one thing that they lacked this year.
“We’re getting close to finalising our list,” he said. “We feel like we have replaced what we’ve lost.
We were a bit banged up when we lost to Brisbane last year.
“We’re added some depth and experience. There’s a lot more depth and we’ve been able to retain our existing list.
“It’s a competitive environment in the local footy market place and what they get offered, it’s a good sign they want to hang around.”
The biggest off season signing for the Seagulls so far is former Adelaide player Lachie Gollant.
The 23-year-old played 16 AFL games before being delisted at the end of this season.
Andrews said that Gollant was keen to get back onto an AFL list.
“He’s from Moonee Ponds and went to school at PEGS,” he said. “We’ve got a few boys from PEGS in our program.
“He thought Melbourne and the VFL was the place for him and he thought playing at a standalone club would be his best chance of getting back on an AFL list.”
Carter Michael, who was on Brisbane’s list and made his AFL debut in 2022, and Hugo Hall-Kahan, who was a mid-season rookie pick with Sydney a couple of years ago, also bring that AFL environment experience.
Nathan Jensen, who has played with the Brisbane Lions Coates Talent League side, has made the move to Victoria and the Seagulls.
Calder Cannons Damon Hollow put pen to paper last week as well, while Tom Mundy, who played in the Seagulls 2019 grand final, returns to the club.
Andrews said they were also excited about the development of their younger guys.
“We’ve got five or six that are under-22 that are on the main list now,” he said. “Come the start of the VFL season they’ll be ready.”
Andrews highlighted Lucas Impey, Joel Fitzgerald, Jack Brown and Michael Ktona as four of those younger players while others are looking to push into the starting 22.
On the other side, Andrews said they had lost three players from their best 22.
Corey Rich and Will Fordham have hung up the boots at VFL level and will play local footy.
Corey Ellison has moved to Frankston.
“It’s closer to home,” Andrews said. “He was travelling and hour and a half each way to get to Williamstown.
“It was hard to do.”
