Winchelsea will enter the 2024 GDFNL season with “a big hole” in its midfield, with Brenton Rees to play soccer as he recovers from a shoulder reconstruction.
The former Geelong and Werribee VFL player has taken to social media to reveal he will play with the Deakin Ducks in the Victorian State League.
Blues coach Christian Shaw says they planned to be without Rees for the 2024 season after he went under the knife before Christmas following an injury he suffered against North Geelong in Round 10.
“The shoulder reco he had was pretty severe, so it’s at least a 12-month injury,” Shaw said.
“In Aussie Rules, you hit the ground more often than not, so there’s a hell of a big risk to come back any earlier than 12 months.
Shaw says he hopes Rees, who previously played locally with St Joseph’s, where he was named GFNL Rookie of the Year in 2014, and Newcomb returns to Eastern Reserve in 2025.
“We all hope the injury heals 100 per cent, and he’ll be bigger and stronger for it,” he said.
“The decision is still pending up to that point. There’s no point in making it now because he can’t play for a long while yet.”
Rees’ absence will open the door for some youngsters to spend more time in the Winchelsea midfield.
“We’ve got guys who are only 19, 20, 21, so they’re going to take a step up,” Shaw said.
“And we’ve spoken about Cass Parish (returning) before. If the stars align for us there, he’s going to be a big inclusion for us.
“Matt Synoradzki will go out onto a wing – he’s a new player for us.
“And we’ve got others we didn’t see last year. Riley Berg is another wingman who’ll come in.
“And we’ve got some other mids we think can plug the gaps.”
As K rock Football revealed last month, Parish is keen to return to his junior club from GFNL club Grovedale.
However, the 2017 Geelong Falcons premiership player is contracted to the Tigers for another year.
“I’ve been speaking to (Grovedale coach) Jacob Spolding a little bit, and I’ve known Spoldo for a few years,” Shaw said.
“There is a little bit to play out here.”
