FAMILY reasons have drawn Panmure premiership star Taylor McKenry back to Penshurst.
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The athletic midfielder has rejoined the Mininera and District league club to link up with his brother Brenton, who will travel from Melbourne to play.
The brothers played in Penshurst’s 2009 and 2012 MDFL premierships before Taylor crossed to Panmure, then coached by Simon O’Keefe.
He spent two seasons with the Bulldogs, earning best-on-ground honours in their 2013 Warrnambool and District league grand final win against Dennington.
“(Brenton) wasn’t playing there last year when I started with Panmure. He went there halfway through the year,” Taylor said.
“I thought while he’s travelling back from Melbourne, I may as well play with him.”
McKenry said he had relished his two seasons at Panmure. He played 42 matches, kicking 28 goals and featuring among the best players 21 times.
He is the latest high-profile player to leave Panmure during the WDFNL off-season.
Ruck duo James Keane (Allansford) and Daniel Roache (Hawkesdale-Macarthur) have found themselves new football homes.
O’Keefe (Koroit), Alex White (Koroit), Tim McPherson (Koroit) and Melbourne-based Andy McPherson have also departed.
The Bulldogs have recruited David Haynes, Nathan Murphy and Mark Murphy from North Warrnambool Eagles and Tom Mahony from Warrnambool.
But the Murphys’ clearance issue — the Eagles knocked back their initial attempts at changing clubs — remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, Merrivale has lured Koroit premiership player Tim Carter to Tigerland.
The defender played 17 matches for the Hampden league Saints last season, including their upset 16-point triumph in the grand final.