Yet there have also been a number of high-profile Eagles depart the club, which will leave holes in the side coach Farran Priest has worked hard to establish.
The biggest of those is left by 2023 senior captain James Harney, ensuring the Eagles enter the 2024 campaign with a glaring 102-goal absence in the forward line.
Harney, alongside brother Joe, will be returning to home club Elmore next year, a fact that Priest does not begrudge, although he admits it will be difficult finding a replacement.
“James has had a really good two years with us,” he said.
“He’s turned into a player that he wasn’t before he came — he had never kicked over 60 — and we obviously had some continuity to give him the footy, and he obviously benefited with the reward from kicking goals.
“It’s going to be tricky (to replace him), but again, we like to think that we get a lot of forward entries anyway, so if we can get another forward, I’m sure they’re going to get the same opportunity.”
Another blow for United is that runner-up best-and-fairest Bailey Boyack has chosen to move to Goulburn Valley League outfit Rochester, a significant loss for the young Eagles side that benefited from having the bigger-bodied Boyack running through the middle.
“He’s one player that we’ve really enjoyed the development of,” Priest said.
“I think he needed to be put out of an environment of where he was, to somewhere where he was probably a little bit more accountable and got himself fit, and I think he really surprised himself with the growth that he had in those two years.
“I think that obviously he proved that to himself with the way he played this year. He openly said that he wants to go play and get a chance at GV footy, and we’re all about boys who want to leave to play better footy.
“We did our best to try to keep him, but we know in the long run if he wants to go play better footy, we’re not going to hold him back; we’re always going to be there for him if he changes his mind.”
Despite losing two of their top performers of this season, the Eagles have also gained experience in former Edenhope-Aspley player Matt Butler.
Butler has signed on not only as centre-half forward but also as the side’s assistant coach, which will be his first mentoring role.
“Matt’s a teacher; he has, I guess, a game sense of he wants to help develop,” Priest said.
“The good thing about Matt is he knows the group quite well; he trained with us during the year before he left to go overseas.
“He really enjoyed what we’re doing and the path we are going down and trying to put time and resources into the young squad, and he was all about that, and that’s probably where it sparked for him to be part of that.
“We’re really lucky; he’s got some really good ideas already, and we’re going to continue to put time and resources into the young squad that we have and do our best to continue to hold on to them. That’s been the big plan behind it all.”
The Eagles have also added tall defender Jack Butler, also from Edenhope-Aspley, while forward-midfielder Shelby Lambrick will arrive at the club after playing for Leitchville-Gunbower this season.
There are more recruits on the way, Priest said, with the club targeting key position players and in advanced talks with a number of individuals; however, there is a lot that still needs to play out.
“It’s been a tricky year to try and recruit,” he said.
“We’re definitely going to hook in a few more; it’s just trying to navigate that next part of getting a yes out of them. We’re definitely still hunting, and we’re hoping we get another three or four through the door, and the right three or four when I say that.”
Pre-season is set to start at the end of the month, with a number of young players already having committed to the club for season 2024, while Priest remains hopeful those who haven’t officially signed won’t be far away.
“We’ve now created a place where we are willing to give opportunities to people who are willing to put in and work hard,” he said.
“At this stage, we are hoping we can keep the list, but we know there’s going to be turnover.”
There has also been plenty of action in terms of off-field recruitment at United, with Peter Quanchi recently announced as the new club president for 2024.
Having played his 100th senior game this season, while also winning the club’s reserves best-and-fairest and the Murray league reserves goalkicking, Quanchi will take over the role from Anthony Chapman.
