Goulburn Valley League sides and those in the other competitions which cover our area alike have been busy — but not just in terms of bringing in recruits.
There are likely to be some sizeable outgoings as well and none come bigger than 2024 league goal-kicking runner-up Anthony Depasquale.
The Kyabram breakout star was monumentally pivotal in keeping his side in touch with those at the top in a season the Bombers were tipped to struggle through after losing a raft of senior talent.
On the cusp of his footballing prime age-wise, though, Depasquale has made the move and elected to sign with Werribee, reigning premier in the VFL where Shepparton export Michael Barlow was coaching a year ago.
He has nominated Kyabram as his home club, meaning he will be eligible to return when commitments permit, in line with a host of other VFL-affiliated players running around in the district competitions.
He’s not the only Bomber jetting to the metro west, either, with star ruck Marcus Khoo signing on for East Keilor in the Essendon District Football League after a stellar campaign.
However, there’s also VFL-calibre talent on its way into the GVL with Seymour making a significant piece of business happen.
The Lions have brought utility Tom Jeffrey into The Den for 2025.
He arrives with years of experience playing with the likes of Aspley in the NEAFL as well as the Brisbane Lions’ VFL side, having worn the colours throughout his junior academy days.
Seymour coach Ben Davey is been more than familiar with his latest acquisition.
“Tom’s got a good footy background, playing a lot of good football in that academy and in the QAFL,” Davey said.
“He was looking for a bit of a change of scenery and his parents are good friends with a couple of club people, including myself.
“His father played in a premiership at Morningside up there with Chris Martin, who’s a big figure at Seymour.
“We’ve known Tom growing up. He wanted to play some Victorian footy at some stage and he’s up for a challenge.
“We want to get people into our club who are good people as well as good footballers who also have a connection to the club and this fits our recruiting structure.”
Naturally, for a versatile addition to the side who has yet to train with the group, there are questions over exactly where Jeffrey is intended to slot into the 22.
“I’ve spoken to Tom about what his football looks like for next year,” Davey said.
“We want him to get in with the group and build up his training and we’ll work with him later to find his best spot.”
For now his inclusion remains a wild card.
So too, though, does the remainder of what Davey alleges is a busy set of signatures still to be announced.
“We’ve still got quite a few we haven’t let out yet, but we’re in no rush to tell,” Davey said.
“The player movement gets later and later and, especially with things like the NTFL, a lot of them aren’t that keen to work out where they’re playing in the winter yet.
“We’re pretty flexible with that sort of stuff; we’ve also got a young group with a lot of quality football coming through and it’s very exciting.”
Sure enough, Seymour confirmed the arrival of another talent soon after with Cam Osmond, fresh out of his first year of seniors at Lancefield in the Riddell District league, confirmed on Wednesday night.
The VFL hits keep coming too, with 2024 wooden-spoon outfit Tatura adding plenty of class to its ranks.
The Bulldogs acquired the services of Jack Lefroy for season 2025, coming out of Kangaroo Flat where he divided his commitments between the Bendigo league and Carlton’s VFL side.
There he lined up alongside the likes of Echuca defender Logan Prout and then-Euroa dynamo Will Hayes.
Current Tatura cricket captain Jayden Armstrong, who has missed two seasons of football in the red, white and blue due to injury and cricket commitments, has committed to go around once more in 2025.
Paul Barnard’s men bolstered their younger contingent with the arrival of Liam Adams, who spent this past season honing himself in the under-18 outfit at Mooroopna, as well as Cole Freeman out of the Cats’ reserves.
In Picola District Football League, runner-up Katandra made a move for freshly-minted playing co-coach Bailey Bell, who arrives from Nathalia coming off the most prolific of his three full seasons there after contributing 31 goals in 2024.
A competitive rival in Strathmerton wasn’t far behind, this week confirming the return of Jake Anderson following a year away playing in Melbourne, having previously helped the Bulldogs reach the 2023 decider.
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