Anglesea coach Jordan Keras is bracing for some headaches at selection in the early stages of the club’s BFNL premiership defence.
The Seas have only one confirmed departure from the team that ended a 26-year flag drought – key defender Jordan Harrison – but have been boosted by some handy recruits and the return of local talent from injury and travel.
Former Essendon player Jason Ashby was unveiled as a signing earlier tonight, with Keras also confirming that Jack Baker, Jack Rice, Josh Jaska, Nick Swain, Max Simpson, and Courtney Wedderburn will be back in the blue and white vertical stripes in 2025.
Rice, Swain and Wedderburn were all part of Anglesea’s 2024 grand final loss to Torquay.
“I think it’s easily the most competitive years for spots since I’ve been in Anglesea for the past four to five years,” Keras said.
“I think there’s going to be a few players that played in our premiership side that will be fighting for spots for sure.
“It’s pretty well documented that we have lacked depth a little bit; throughout last year, when we got tested in the middle of the year.
“We are looking like having a squad of 33-35 players that have all played senior footy.”
Ashby was drafted in 201 from the Oakleigh Chargers and made 12 appearances in four seasons at Essendon before being delisted at the end of 2016.
He also made 62 VFL appearances for the Bombers.
The 31-year-old then spent two seasons with Old Carey in the VAFA and was due to play with Moe in 2020 before Covid put paid to those plans.
Ashby’s solitary appearance on a football field came for Old Paradians in Division 2 of the Northern league last year.
His lack of football in recent years means he will be a one-point player for the Seas.
“He’s moved into town, he likes his fishing, and he just randomly spoke to our reserves coach (Luke Sceney), who is one of the better fishermen in town,” Keras said.
“And that was pretty much all that was required to get him over the line.
“Then I took him out fishing… he’s one of the best blokes you’ll ever meet.
“He hasn’t played for a couple of years, but watching him train this pre-season, you can tell that he’s played a dozen AFL games.”
Ashby joins former Lara ruck Ryan Bell, Joel Hogan (South Barwon), James Fulton (Uni Blues), and Josh Miller (Edithvale-Aspendale) as new faces at Ellimatta Reserve.
Harrison, who has crossed to Bellarine rivals Modewarre, is the only confirmed departure.
However, Keras admits high-flying backman Tev Nofi, who overcame a serious elbow injury in the pre-season to feature in the premiership team, is no certainty to play.
“Tev will have a think over the next couple of months about what he wants to do,” Keras said
“It was a significant elbow injury to Tevin. He’s a workhorse when it comes to his day-to-day job of being a joiner.
“If we can convince him to give us another year, that would be great
“But hopefully at 27, being one of the best players in the comp, he doesn’t pull the pin prematurely.”
Anglesea has practice matches scheduled against South Barwon and North Ringwood before opening its premiership defence with a trip to Ocean Grove on Good Friday, April 4.
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