Ellis will make McLean Oval his home this season after building a reputation as a possession-winning onballer with the Colac and District league club.

He joins Xavier Mills, brothers Matt and Scott Lenehan and ruckman James Keane as ready-made recruits at the club.

Allansford coach Josh Parkinson said he was pleased to secure Ellis’ signature. He tipped the recruit to have a role on a flank or in the midfield. “(He’ll be) half-back, half-forward, wing. He’s got some pretty good wheels on him and good skills,” he said.

“I’d envisage him playing in that area.

“In the past down with Apollo Bay he’s managed to be a goalkicker as well. Hopefully he can do that for us.”

Parkinson said Ellis had connections with two current Cats which prompted his decision to sign on.

“He grew up and played a lot of footy with Nick Johnstone and Kye Bunworth at Heywood. We got an in there,” he said.

“They always wanted to play a year of footy somewhere else other than Heywood. It’s come about this year, which is fortunate for us.” Allansford bowed out of the 2014 Warrnambool and District league finals series with an elimination final defeat to Old Collegians.

The Cats were among the pacesetters early in the season. 

But injuries, notably to Johnstone and Sam Holloway, undermined their premiership hopes.

Their bid to end a 28-year flag drought started before Christmas and resumed on January 12.

Practice matches against Hawkesdale-Macarthur and North Warrnambool Eagles are in the pipeline, as well as an intra-club contest.

Meanwhile, Panmure faces a major test of its ruck depth with confirmation ruckman Daniel Roache has returned to Hawkesdale-Macarthur.

Roache played juniors with the Eagles before heading to Koroit and then Panmure, helping the Bulldogs to back-to-back flags.

He formed half of a potent ruck combination with Keane. But their departure has left new coach David Haynes without a dominant big man at his disposal.

The WDFNL season kicks off when Kolora-Noorat hosts Deakin University on March 28. The remaining round one matches are the following weekend, headlined by the Merrivale-Old Collegians Good Friday blockbuster.

South Rovers meet East Warrnambool, Nirranda plays Dennington, Allansford takes on Panmure and Timboon Demons face Russells Creek.

afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au