Livewire small forward Hunter Lewis has become the latest departure from GFNL grand finalist St Joseph’s, signing with Queensland-based club Noosa.
Noosa’s coach, former North Shore mentor Darren Winter, has confirmed that Lewis will join the Tigers, who compete in the top flight of football in the Sunshine State.
The 20-year-old made his senior debut in 2023, winning the GFNL Rookie of the Year award despite only playing 11 games before a broken leg ended his season prematurely.
After 25 goals in his first season, Lewis bounced back from his injury with 57 goals in 2024, which was followed by 38 goals last season.
His departure follows that of joint best-and-fairest Luke Webb (Bungaree), Sebastopol-bound duo Jack Buckley and Felix Henderson, Joey Chaplin (WA), Ben Clark (Newcomb), James Hickey (Geelong Amateur), Jack Leonard (Queenscliff), and Oscar Morrison (Bairnsdale).
Midfielder Keelin Betson has been linked with a return to Goulburn Valley League club Mooroopna.
Lewis is not the only player with a Geelong connection who will ply their trade with Noosa in 2026.
Grovedale product and former Cats VFL player James Tsitas has also signed with the Tigers.
Tsitas, who played five AFL games in three seasons on Gold Coast’s list, spent this year with the Suns’ VFL team.
Meanwhile, Leopold has unveiled a trio of signings, including two arrivals from the Ballarat league.
Ziggy Lee (Redan) and Paddy Gilbert (Lake Wendouree) have been joined at Memorial Park by Ethan Skene (North Cairns).
Skene, a South Barwon junior, played in an AFL Cairns premiership alongside former Leopold coach Jason Tom and premiership defender Darcy Keast in 2025.
Gilbert is the brother of current Lion Lewis.
In the Bellarine league, newcomer Surf Coast has announced the addition of Clancy Mackay (Bell Post Hill) and Geelong VFL signing Eddie Weeks.
A Leopold junior, Mackay played 30 senior games across four seasons at Myers Reserve, including 16 in 2024.
Weeks featured at the underage level with SANFL clubs Sturt and Norwood, and has most recently played with St Peter’s Old Collegians.
Meanwhile, Torquay has lost defender Seamus Doyle to North Heidelberg.
Doyle played 35 senior games across five seasons for the Tigers, including a career-high 15 last year.
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