Anglesea coach Jordan Keras says a strong connection with Brodie Cambridge’s family helped the Bellarine reigning premier sign the promising Lara youngster.
Cambridge, who finished third in the Cats’ best-and-fairest in 2025, has become the latest player from the in-recess GFNL club to find a home and will join ruck Ryan Bell at Ellimatta Reserve.
“I actually treat his old man and his brother at the physio clinic, and I also know his Grandmother, who also comes into our physio clinic,” Keras said.
“So, just keeping a few tabs through those connections.
“We got in touch with Brodie once we heard the news about Lara.”
A key defender, Cambridge is likely to fill the void left by the expected absence of premiership defender Tev Nofi, who Keras concedes might not play in 2026.
“Pretty much, yeah,” Keras said.
“We’ve got James Fulton, (but) you don’t know about some players until you watch them go around, and he’s been really impressive in the air, but also as an attacking defender as well.
“It’s nice to have a key position player who’s very comfortable being on the last line of defence.”
While Nofi remains up in the air, Keras expects Dylan Featon to appear at times this year.
“He’s just started a new business, so his priority has been there,” Keras said. “He’ll probably play half a dozen to a dozen games for us throughout the year.
“We’ll sit down and talk through what the plan is with him moving forward.
“But, we’ll put the pieces of the puzzle together as I’ve always done every year.
“It constantly works out like this with a lot of players.”
Anglesea, which is chasing consecutive premierships for the first time in its history, faces South Barwon and North Ringwood in practice matches before travelling to Ocean Grove on Good Friday to start its flag defence.
Meanwhile, rivals Torquay are excited by the arrival of Hugh Trigg from North Ballarat.
Trigg, who turns 20 in April, spent last year as a development player with VFL club Port Melbourne under former North Ballarat coach Brendan McCartney.
Tigers mentor Dom Gleeson says McCartney and Sebastopol coach Tony Lockyer gave Trigg “pretty big raps”.
“A rangy hybrid forward, maybe wing; I don’t mind the look of him down back as well, so pretty versatile so far,” Gleeson said.
“He just moved to the area and doesn’t want to travel for footy.
“He wants to settle at a club, and he’s chosen us, which is great.”
And Ocean Grove has been strengthened by the arrival of Baden Pohlner from Goulburn Valley League club Shepparton Bears.
Pohlner played five senior matches last year, including the Bears’ elimination final loss to Mansfield, after making his debut in Round 12.
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