A LINK through a former teammate of co-coach Glenn Keast has helped St Mary’s land former Melbourne-listed player Dion Johnstone.
Johnstone, who spent two years on the Demons’ list without playing an AFL game and a season with VFL club Port Melbourne, joins the two-time GFNL reigning premier from Hampden League club North Warrnambool.
“I’m good mates with his future father-in-law, Scott Wilding, who I played with at North Shore,” Keast said.
“We got in touch through Scott, and Dion’s partner is expecting, so they’re heading to Geelong to be closer to her family.
A small forward, who played in the Talent League with Oakleigh Chargers, Johnstone kicked 29 goals from 21 games, helping the Eagles to last year’s grand final, where they lost to returning Saint Sam Dobson’s Koroit.
“He’s primarily played his footy as a small forward,” Keast said,
“So, losing Harry Kol (Old Geelong), we see him fitting the role Harry played for us.
“And he has played some time down back. When he was at Melbourne, they looked at him as a defender.”
Johnstone is the third former AFL-listed player to join the Saints, with former Brayden Ham (Essendon) and Nick Stevens (Geelong) aligning with the club.
Ham will play VFL at the Cats, while Stevens is at North Melbourne.
Keast also confirmed the signing of Chris Jansen and Jordy Harper from Goulburn Valley League club Rochester.
“They’re Canberra boys originally and good mates,” Keast said.
“Chris is a 6’2½” (189cm) midfielder who played some footy with Central Districts in Adelaide and North Melbourne VFL.
“Jordy’s a running-machine winger/midfield-type player as well.
“Ben Moloney and ‘Shermo’ (Zak Sherman) have played those types of roles.
“They’re probably a little bit different in terms of size and shape, but we think they are both adequate replacements.”
In a further boost for St Mary’s, 2019 premiership dup Matt Copley and Doug Bond are ready to go after missing the 2022 season due to injury.
St Mary’s will have a scratch match against Geelong’s VFL team next Monday, where they will face star Saint Harry Benson.
The dual Mathieson medallist has recently signed with the Cats for the 2023 season.
“It’s just a natural progression for him,” Keast said.
“It’s something he needs to do for himself, and it’s great for the club to be pushing people to that level.
“He’s going to go and have a crack, which is good to see.”
The Saints will also face GFNL rivals South Barwon, Essendon League club Aberfeldie, and Ballarat powerhouse North Ballarat in the lead-up to their Round 1 meeting with St Joseph’s at Anthony Costa Oval.
Twitter: @krockfootball
