FIVE-time reigning premier Koroit will welcome three flag stars back into the fold in 2019.
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Brothers Ben and Sam Dobson and James Gow have re-signed with the Hampden league power after time in the VFL system.
The Saints have also added former Maskell Medal winner Rhys Raymond, who spent last season at South West District league club Heywood.
Koroit coach Chris McLaren said Ben Dobson, who is coming off a serious knee injury, had committed as a playing assistant coach.
“He’s really keen to get into that and has aspirations to be a senior coach, so it’s not like he’s lobbing in as an assistant for the title, he’s actually really keen,” he said.
“With ‘Bucky’ (Mat Buck) being back and ‘Boxy’ (Damian O’Connor) and myself, it’s three guys who have coached at senior level who can really guide him through that and give him a lot of responsibility.”
The Dobsons return after three seasons away. Both were aligned to Geelong league club St Mary’s during their time away.
Ben spent two seasons at VFL club Essendon and Sam three years with Geelong’s state league side.
McLaren said Ben would give Koroit options.
“As a 19-year-old he had a year at centre half-forward in maybe 2009 and kicked 60-odd goals,” he said.
“He’s played onball at Essendon and can play behind the footy, has done at VCFL and Vic Country level.
“That’s the beauty of him, he can play anywhere on the ground.”
McLaren expects Sam to slot into the Saints’ attack.
“Sam will give us so much forward of the ball and he is a really, really hard player to play on,” he said.
“Age-wise he is just hitting the peak of his powers and potentially he’s still getting better which is scary.”
Midfielder Gow, who was aligned to GFL club Bell Park, returns after two seasons with Geelong in the VFL.
McLaren said it was exciting to regain a player who is “a past best-and-fairest in a premiership year”.
Koroit-listed duo Jarrod Korewha (Geelong) and Levi Nagorcka (Werribee) are also doing VFL pre-seasons.
The Saints have lost midfielder Taylor Mulraney, who has joined GFL side South Barwon.
Mulraney, who is training with VFL club Geelong, spent five seasons at Koroit for five flags.
Mulraney joins Tim McIntyre (Barwon Heads) and Ben Goodall (retirement) as departures.
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