The Bombers were more than happy to put their list strategy into the public sphere with an emphasis on bringing former juniors and locals back to their home club.
A week that already looked successful on that front reached a new level with another pair of all-star acquisitions following the signings of Sam Vick, Mitch Gugliotti and Billy McLay.
Another Lancaster gun departs the Kyabram District League powerhouse, this time in the form of best-and-fairest winner Zac Cerrone.
Cerrone had been a mainstay at Lancaster, plying his trade for over a decade and, of course, reaping the ultimate rewards alongside Vick in 2022 and 2023 premierships.
He goes out on top, having claimed the Wombats’ 2024 best-and-fairest on Friday night.
Far from content with this bevy of new signatures the Bombers went on to pull off a coup with the recruitment of Coby McCarthy after a year spent at Mooroopna.
Frequently among the Goulburn Valley League’s most prolific ball-getters, McCarthy averaged more than 34 disposals and 13 contested possessions a game in a barnstorming year, following his move from Tongala in the Murray league competition.
It’s no understatement to suggest he was often the heartbeat of the Cats’ on-ball brigade — and one would expect him to be similarly influential at the Wilf Cox Complex.
Co-coach Corey Carver was keen to get started with an impressive haul of recruits — and left the door open for yet more bombshells.
“Zac decided, like Sam, that he wanted to play major league football coming from Lancaster,” Carver said.
“We caught up with Coby and he was keen to come in and try Ky, so we’re quite happy with that.
“It was that scenario where if Zac doesn’t make the switch now, he might not do it at all. You wouldn’t expect a 70-goal tally, but we think he’ll definitely play a role for us in the forward line and we’ll be different after we lost Brad Mangan.
“We know Coby’s a good player and it gives us more ball-winning opportunity. He’s good on the inside and outside, so we’re looking forward to him going to work for us.
“You’re always exploring in October and we might have a couple more land; you never truly know at this time of year.”
There have been more eyebrow-raising moves across the region, though, with a focus on an outfit which struggled this year in Violet Town.
The Towners have made an enormous move to galvanise the playing squad aiming for better things in 2025, snapping up JD Hayes from Euroa to immediately supercharge the midfield.
The one-time Magpies senior coach splits from brother Will in heading just down the Hume Hwy to don his new colours, adding impressive experience to an outfit which yielded one win this past season, with Robbie Wilson returning to the club following 89 previous appearances.
Sticking with the KDL, Avenel has made its move to replace outgoing boss Matthew Huy as a new era beckons at the Swans following the additional departures of the Avola brothers.
Josh Delaney will now take on the top job for the red and white as the club opts to promote from within its playing stocks after two years under Huy’s stewardship.
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