Strong family ties have helped GDFNL preliminary finalist Bell Post Hill land former Geelong West (GFNL) captain David Handley.
A Geelong Falcons premiership player in 2017, who also played 16 VFL games with Carlton, including 14 in 2022, has been unveiled as the Panthers’ first off-season signing.
Handley’s mum, Amanda, is a life member at Myers Reserve, while his father, Ewan, is a former player.
The 26-year-old was part of Bell Post Hill’s Auskick program but didn’t play with the club.
Handley, who represented Vic Country at under-18 level and was named in a TAC Cup Team of the Year in 2017, won West’s best-and-fairest in 2021, the same year he earned GFNL Team of the Year selection.
However, injury has restricted the ball-winning midfielder to just eight games in the past two seasons, including just two in 2025.
Meanwhile, Belmont Lions have announced James Grohmann from Miniera and District club Penshurst as their latest signing.
However, Grohmann’s roots are in the state’s north-east, playing his underage football with Ovens and Murray club Wodonga.
X: @krockfootball
