NORTH Warrnambool Eagles’ productive off-season is gathering momentum, with former Mornington Peninsula-Nepean interleague ruckman Dale Robinson signing on.
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Robinson, who helped thrash the Hampden Football Netball League’s interleague side at Camperdown in 2010, was a member of Kolora-Noorat’s 2011 Warrnambool and District league premiership side.
He endured an injury-interrupted season with the Power and again last year he only played four matches with Berwick in the Casey Cardinia league, which is part of the MPNFNL, but the Eagles see his signing as significant.
Robinson will give the Eagles more height and support for ruckman Jordan Dillon, who was a revelation last season.
According to the Hampden Football Netball League website, Terang Mortlake has finally got its man — former Port Fairy ruckman Robbie Hare.
Hare, who had been highly regarded at Port, having played 28 senior games before his 19th birthday, stood out of footy last season after a protracted clearance wrangle.
He had attempted to leave the Seagulls and follow coach Shane Threlfall to Terang Mortlake but on appeal his bid was blocked by the VCFL appeals board, which ruled he had signed a contract to play at Gardens Oval.
The Bloods have also picked up Threlfall’s talented son Michael from Warrnambool. Michael was captain of Warrnambool’s 2011 under 18 premiership side and won the club’s best and fairest as a defender. But he spent much of last season overseas playing cricket.
Midfielders Tim Harlock, who has been playing in South Australia, and Joseph Conheady, who has been playing in the Goulburn Valley league, are returning to the Bloods.
Shane Threlfall said the Bloods had been training hard and were pleased with their recruiting.
He played down expectations 2008 premiership coach Matthew Irving was returning to play, despite having a clearance in to rejoin the league.
“He’s our forward line coach,” Threlfall said.
“He’s coaching the Hampden schoolboys and the Falcons under 16s so he’s focusing on coaching now.”
The playing inclusions help cover the loss of midfielder Nathan Couch, who is heading to Nirranda, while the playing futures of star Terang Mortlake midfielder Joel Moloney, defender Jason Moloney and Brett Molan are unclear, with the trio travelling overseas.