The new year has brought a change in fortune on the recruitment front for GFNL battler North Shore.
Since the 2023 season finished, the Seagulls have farewelled several senior players, including former captain Patrick Cleary (North Geelong), 2022 GFNL Team of the Year member Jack Leonard (St Joseph’s), and 2023 best-and-fairest runner-up Sam Witherden (Barwon Heads).
This (Sunday) afternoon, North Shore unveiled four signings, including three from Western Australia.
That trio is headlined by Mahli King, a 175cm midfielder who made seven senior appearances with WAFL club East Perth, has coached regional club Jandakot, and is playing with Wanderers in the Northern Territory.
Fellow midfielder Nathan Arbon played eight senior games at East Perth. From Busselton, the 173cm midfielder is also playing in the Northern Territory where he will represent the NTFL against Essendon’s VFL team.
He spent 2023 with Cairns Saints, who made the Cairns AFL grand final.
184cm speedster James Chadwick also spent time at East Perth, including the start of the 2023 season, before playing out the year in the Margaret River region with Eaton.
North Shore’s fourth addition is key defender Eddie Trupp, who played in a Tasmanian State League premiership with Lauderdale in 2019. He’s most recently been in the UK where he held a coaching role with London Swans.
Meanwhile, Anglesea has unveiled Courtney Weatherburn from St Bede’s Mentone in the VAFA.
The Roos have described 195cm Weatherburn as “a player who loves taking a big grab whilst also showing some good dash at ground level as a key position player”.
He joins Dylan Featon (Deer Park) as the Roos’ publicly announced signings.
