Liam Buxton (Casey Demons): 200cm ruckman new to the VFL scene but has quickly caught the eye of Dees coach Jade Rawlings. Played in Vermont’s premiership team and was the Eastern league’s best player at representative level last year. Will make a powerful one-two ruck combination with Braydon Preuss for Casey.
Casey newcomer Liam Buxton rucking for Vermont Eagles. Picture: Valeriu Campan
Campbell Floyd (Geelong): has been with the VFL Cats for three seasons and had one or two AFL clubs nosing around last year after he emerged to play 15 VFL games. Tall and rangy type who runs hard, is versatile and has improved his kicking. His younger brother Ethan, a left-footer, has joined him at the VFL Cats this year.
Campbell Floyd on the track for the Cats.
Nathan Freeman (Frankston): delisted by St Kilda after two matches last season, Collingwood’s 2013 top-10 draft selection linked with the stand-alone Dolphins and has enjoyed an incident-free pre-season. If his fitness holds he’s sure to figure frequently on the best-player list — and get AFL clubs thinking.
Nathan Freeman has joined Frankston.
Jack Henderson (Werribee): came out of the Geelong Falcons to play 18 games last year as a shut-down defender, earning some lift-off from teammate Sam Collins. The Bees judged him their best first-year player and will look to play him in other roles this season to show his flexibility.
Mitch Hibberd (Williamstown): let go by North Melbourne after three years and four AFL matches, the 190cm Hibberd will play as an onballer with the Seagulls this season, with coach Andy Collins keen to tap into his recruit’s endurance and marking.
Mitch Hibberd on debut for the Roos.
Campbell Hustwaite (Collingwood): the left-footer joined the Pies after captaining the Dandenong Stingrays to their first Under 18 premiership and streaking off with the best and fairest. Head-down, bum-up midfielder who wins the ball and uses it smartly. Expected to make early appearances as the 23rd man.
Campbell Hustwaite had a dominant season for the Dandenong Stingrays.
Mitch Lewis (Casey Demons): an ankle injury ended his 2018 season prematurely but the neat right-footer had showed enough as a flanker at both ends of the ground to suggest a higher level was within his compass. Runs 2km in six minutes, putting his running ability in the elite bracket.
Mitch Lewis pings out a handball for Casey Demons.
Luke Meadows (Box Hill Hawks): onballer who arrives at the Hawks with much honours earned in the WAFL. A perky start to the season will have clubs assessing the 24-year-old as a mid-season draft candidate.
Sam Lowson (Coburg): small but powerful forward who is explosive off the mark, keeps his feet and is a terrier of a tackler. Had a couple of scouts running an eye over him in last Saturday’s practice match.
Tom Maloney (Box Hill Hawks): an onballer who could find the ball in a blizzard, Maloney played 10 senior games and in the Hawks’ premiership team last year. No frills about him, but the former Sandringham Dragon thrills his coaches with his team-first focus.
Lachie McDonnell (Frankston): the classy 2018 Dandenong Stingrays premiership flanker/wingman was on the fringes of draft selection (Carlton took a good look at him) and appeals as a player who can come through with a season or two of VFL finishing.
Carlton considered drafting Lachie McDonnell, who has joined Frankston.
Sam McLarty (Williamstown): somewhat surprisingly delisted after two years with Collingwood, McLarty will be one of Willy’s defensive pillars as he strives for another AFL chance. Strong overhead, approaches the ball fearlessly and fiercely, and likes to attack. “He’s got huge upside,’’ Willy coach Andy Collins said.
Sam McLarty battling it out with Darcy Moore at Collingwood training.
Jimmy Miller (Frankston): the Dolphins have already taken calls from AFL clubs about their 198cm first-year forward. Miller is originally from WA but joined the Navy last year and bobbed up for the Cerberus football team in the lower reaches of the Southern league, which is a bit like Winx showing up at Woolamai.
Brayden Monk (Williamstown): rose to prominence with his run and carry last season as he went from fringe player to 20-game senior regular. Won the reserves best and fairest in 2017 and at 23 still improving.
Brayden Monk tries to take a big grab in last year’s finals.
Nathan Mullenger-McHugh (Box Hill Hawks): the Heathmont and Eastern Ranges product spent two years on the Western Bulldogs’ rookie list and had some good moments in the VFL. Tall, accomplished at both ends of the ground and capable of winning his way back on to an AFL list.
Nathan Mullenger-McHugh had two years with the Doggies.
Marcus Lentini (Coburg): the former Northern Knight could hardly have been more impressive in his first season in the VFL, ending it the equal-highest possession winner, his 509 disposals bracketing him with new Blue Michael Gibbons. Was named in the VFL team of the year and shared the Burgers’ best and fairest. When you deal in the numbers Lentini does, you’ll get attention.
Ball-hogging Coburg midfielder Marcus Lentini.
Baxter Norton (Werribee): Tasmania has been fertile recruiting territory for the Tigers (think Ben Brown and three-time club champion Matt Hanson) and left-footer Norton arrives with a good reputation earned at Under 18 representative level (Mariners, Allies) last year.
Baxter Norton marking for North Hobart.
Jesse Palmer (Northern Blues): amid the flurry of movements through the pre-season supplementary list rule it would have been no surprise to see the three-game Port Adelaide utility find a new AFL home. A class act of the VFL and was named at centre half forward in the 2018 team of the year.
Jesse Palmer gathers possession for the Northern Blues.
Ethan Phillips (Port Melbourne): tall defender who took the eye last season with his intercept marking and neat left foot. Played in St Kevin’s VAFA premiership and also attended the state combine.
Sam Ralph (Collingwood): 195cm wingman/flanker from Old Xaverians who can take a mark and run like a king tide. Played only two matches last season but expect him to be more prominent this year.
Kyle Reid (Geelong): a 2018 All Australian key defender and TAC Cup team-of-the-year selection with Gippsland Power, Reid has spent time training with the AFL Cats and will feature early in the VFL season as the 23rd player.
Edyn Sibbald (Essendon): 200cm forward who moves with impressive agility and energy, and has vices for hands. Came out of VAFA St Bernard’s and the Dons expect him to improve sharply and build on his four-game tally of 2018.
Casey newcomer Liam Buxton rucking for Vermont Eagles. Picture: Valeriu Campan
Campbell Floyd (Geelong): has been with the VFL Cats for three seasons and had one or two AFL clubs nosing around last year after he emerged to play 15 VFL games. Tall and rangy type who runs hard, is versatile and has improved his kicking. His younger brother Ethan, a left-footer, has joined him at the VFL Cats this year.
Campbell Floyd on the track for the Cats.
Nathan Freeman (Frankston): delisted by St Kilda after two matches last season, Collingwood’s 2013 top-10 draft selection linked with the stand-alone Dolphins and has enjoyed an incident-free pre-season. If his fitness holds he’s sure to figure frequently on the best-player list — and get AFL clubs thinking.
Nathan Freeman has joined Frankston.
Jack Henderson (Werribee): came out of the Geelong Falcons to play 18 games last year as a shut-down defender, earning some lift-off from teammate Sam Collins. The Bees judged him their best first-year player and will look to play him in other roles this season to show his flexibility.
Mitch Hibberd (Williamstown): let go by North Melbourne after three years and four AFL matches, the 190cm Hibberd will play as an onballer with the Seagulls this season, with coach Andy Collins keen to tap into his recruit’s endurance and marking.
Mitch Hibberd on debut for the Roos.
Campbell Hustwaite (Collingwood): the left-footer joined the Pies after captaining the Dandenong Stingrays to their first Under 18 premiership and streaking off with the best and fairest. Head-down, bum-up midfielder who wins the ball and uses it smartly. Expected to make early appearances as the 23rd man.
Campbell Hustwaite had a dominant season for the Dandenong Stingrays.
Mitch Lewis (Casey Demons): an ankle injury ended his 2018 season prematurely but the neat right-footer had showed enough as a flanker at both ends of the ground to suggest a higher level was within his compass. Runs 2km in six minutes, putting his running ability in the elite bracket.
Mitch Lewis pings out a handball for Casey Demons.
Luke Meadows (Box Hill Hawks): onballer who arrives at the Hawks with much honours earned in the WAFL. A perky start to the season will have clubs assessing the 24-year-old as a mid-season draft candidate.
Sam Lowson (Coburg): small but powerful forward who is explosive off the mark, keeps his feet and is a terrier of a tackler. Had a couple of scouts running an eye over him in last Saturday’s practice match.
Tom Maloney (Box Hill Hawks): an onballer who could find the ball in a blizzard, Maloney played 10 senior games and in the Hawks’ premiership team last year. No frills about him, but the former Sandringham Dragon thrills his coaches with his team-first focus.
Lachie McDonnell (Frankston): the classy 2018 Dandenong Stingrays premiership flanker/wingman was on the fringes of draft selection (Carlton took a good look at him) and appeals as a player who can come through with a season or two of VFL finishing.
Carlton considered drafting Lachie McDonnell, who has joined Frankston.
Sam McLarty (Williamstown): somewhat surprisingly delisted after two years with Collingwood, McLarty will be one of Willy’s defensive pillars as he strives for another AFL chance. Strong overhead, approaches the ball fearlessly and fiercely, and likes to attack. “He’s got huge upside,’’ Willy coach Andy Collins said.
Sam McLarty battling it out with Darcy Moore at Collingwood training.
Jimmy Miller (Frankston): the Dolphins have already taken calls from AFL clubs about their 198cm first-year forward. Miller is originally from WA but joined the Navy last year and bobbed up for the Cerberus football team in the lower reaches of the Southern league, which is a bit like Winx showing up at Woolamai.
Brayden Monk (Williamstown): rose to prominence with his run and carry last season as he went from fringe player to 20-game senior regular. Won the reserves best and fairest in 2017 and at 23 still improving.
Brayden Monk tries to take a big grab in last year’s finals.
Nathan Mullenger-McHugh (Box Hill Hawks): the Heathmont and Eastern Ranges product spent two years on the Western Bulldogs’ rookie list and had some good moments in the VFL. Tall, accomplished at both ends of the ground and capable of winning his way back on to an AFL list.
Nathan Mullenger-McHugh had two years with the Doggies.
Marcus Lentini (Coburg): the former Northern Knight could hardly have been more impressive in his first season in the VFL, ending it the equal-highest possession winner, his 509 disposals bracketing him with new Blue Michael Gibbons. Was named in the VFL team of the year and shared the Burgers’ best and fairest. When you deal in the numbers Lentini does, you’ll get attention.
Ball-hogging Coburg midfielder Marcus Lentini.
Baxter Norton (Werribee): Tasmania has been fertile recruiting territory for the Tigers (think Ben Brown and three-time club champion Matt Hanson) and left-footer Norton arrives with a good reputation earned at Under 18 representative level (Mariners, Allies) last year.
Baxter Norton marking for North Hobart.
Jesse Palmer (Northern Blues): amid the flurry of movements through the pre-season supplementary list rule it would have been no surprise to see the three-game Port Adelaide utility find a new AFL home. A class act of the VFL and was named at centre half forward in the 2018 team of the year.
Jesse Palmer gathers possession for the Northern Blues.
Ethan Phillips (Port Melbourne): tall defender who took the eye last season with his intercept marking and neat left foot. Played in St Kevin’s VAFA premiership and also attended the state combine.
Sam Ralph (Collingwood): 195cm wingman/flanker from Old Xaverians who can take a mark and run like a king tide. Played only two matches last season but expect him to be more prominent this year.
Kyle Reid (Geelong): a 2018 All Australian key defender and TAC Cup team-of-the-year selection with Gippsland Power, Reid has spent time training with the AFL Cats and will feature early in the VFL season as the 23rd player.
Edyn Sibbald (Essendon): 200cm forward who moves with impressive agility and energy, and has vices for hands. Came out of VAFA St Bernard’s and the Dons expect him to improve sharply and build on his four-game tally of 2018.
