Prospects continue to get better and better for Sunbury Lions, with a key signing committing full time and a former player returning to coach the under-18.5s.
Former Greater Western Sydney rookie Joe Redfern has committed to play with the club full time next season after originally planning to play with Werribee in between VFL commitments.
And Wayne Meacham, a former Lions reserves captain, has come on board as under-18.5 coach.
Lions coach Rick Horwood said he was thrilled to have Redfern at the club full time.
“It was about long-term planning when we signed Joe,” Horwood said. “We figured we might get him for a few games this year, and we’re hoping he would commit to the club full time down the track.
“Now he’s signed on full time and it’s exciting.”
Redfern is one of three former VFL players joining the club next season.
“It’s exciting times for us, with Grant Valles, Alik Magin and Joe coming on board,” Horwood said. “Once Alik was on board, Joe and Grant wanted to come across as they’re close friends.
“Grant will play full time with us as well. He had just about had enough of being in lesser sides [Bendigo and Frankston] and decided his days in the VFL were over.
“The three all played at Bendigo together, along with Jack Sheahan and Daniel Toman.”
Horwood is excited by what Redfern could achieve.
“GWS used him as a midfielder then turned him into a forward,” the coach said.
“At Bendigo, he was back-up ruckman and defender, and at Werribee he was a half-back flanker. We think we’ll use him as bit of a swing man.”
The Lions’ offseason recruiting has landed another player in Patrick MacDonough.
The signing of Meacham as under-18.5 coach adds more experience to the Lions’ coaching panel.
Meacham played eight years in the Lions’ reserves, including several premierships, and returns from the Sunbury Kangaroos.
He coached the Kangaroos to the last two Riddell District Football League reserves premierships.
The club has also managed to pick up a few more players to add to its under-18.5 squad.
