Following the 2016 season coming to a close, Coburg are delighted to announce the further re signings of ten more players from the 2016 list.
We’re delighted to announce that Brandon Bailey, Mitchell Conn, Jesse Corigliano, Rhys Free, Regan Grimwood, Liam Hunt, Michael Mattingly, Peter McEvoy, Mark Orr, and Dylan Tarczon have all reconfirmed their commitment for 2017.
In his second season on the list, Brandon managed four senior games, debuting in round seventeen against Casey and holding his place for the final four games of the season. The Morwell junior’s best performance was in the round nineteen match against Frankston where he managed two crucial final quarter goals in the final win of the season.
Sunbury Lions Junior Mitch Conn overcame an early season knee injury to be a mainstay of the 2016 Development League side. Awarded the Cameron Baird VG MC award for Most Courageous Calder Cannon in 2015, Mitch was amongst the better performers for the Lions, especially in the second half of the season where he stood up with the depleted playing stocks.
Another player in his second season at the club, Jesse went from being on the fringes of the Development League side to playing senior football in 2016- making his debut as 23rd man in the last home game of the season in round nineteen. Jesse was one of the standouts for the Development League side throughout 2016 and was one of the sides more consistent performers throughout the year.
Rhys Free’s first season within the VFL system saw him manage twelve goals from fifteen encounters. The former Bendigo Pioneer key forward originally from Cohuna was named amongst the coaches best five times in 2016, continuing on from his solid 2015 season in the TAC Cup where he was amongst the Pioneers better players.
A mid-season signing from Eastern Football League club Montrose, Regan Grimwood managed the last seven games in the Development League Competition where he was best deployed as a small forward or midfielder. With a full pre-season under his belt, Regan will be aiming for Senior Football in 2017.
After injury de-railed his debut 2015 season, Liam Hunt was outstanding stepping up into an inside midfield role and was amongst the most improved players at Piranha Park throughout the 2016 season. The former Northern Knight was awarded the best on ground medal for the Strathmore Bank Community Cup clash with Essendon in round six and was one of the more consistent performers in the second half of the season.
Former Northern Knight and GWS Giants Academy member Mick Mattingly made a seamless transition from the TAC Cup to the VFL in 2016, appearing in all bar one senior match. Originally from Wagga and Corowa, Mattingly established himself as a permanent fixture across halfback possessing a penetrating left foot kick. Previously he represented New South Wales in underage representative football and cricket.
Peter McEvoy was hailed as a key signing heading into 2016, and this was backed up with outstanding leadership to go with his impact up forward being amongst the competition leaders in contested marking. Coming over from the Box Hill Hawks, McEvoy suffered a season ending injury in the round ten clash with Port Melbourne, breaking his leg, hampering the sides forward structure. Currently, McEvoy is doing everything in his power to be right for round one of 2017.
Inducted into the leadership group for 2016, Mark Orr bounced back from a difficult first half of the season to re-establish himself in a key position down back. The former Western Jet managed ten games in 2016 for a total of 23, and is seen as a key part of the future for Coburg over the next few seasons.
Son of former Carlton and Port Melbourne player Darren, Dylan Tarczon made his senior debut in the round 2 clash with Port Melbourne at North Port Oval, and instantly made an impact with his ferociousness and physicality in the forward line before suffering a posterior cruciate ligament in round five. He would return later in the season for a few more games.
Lions List and Recruiting Manager Sebastian Spagnuolo was glad to have secured these signings in the wake of the 2016 season finishing, and with over a month until the beginning of the preseason.
“It’s another great step in the right direction for our club in announcing these signings.”
“Liam was a mainstay on our senior team in 2016 and is one of our hardest working midfielders so we’re extremely happy to have him re-commit to the club. In 2017, which will be his 3rd season at Coburg, he’ll be looking to again take his game and leadership qualities to another level.”
To have Jesse, Brandon and Mark also re-commit for their 3rd year at Coburg in 2017 speaks volumes for the program that the club has put together. Each have played senior football in their first 2 years at Piranha Park and will no doubt be looking for more in 2017.”
“We’re looking forward to seeing a fit and firing Peter McEvoy back at Piranha Park in 2017 too, at the time of his injury he was leading the VFL in contested marks and was such a strong focal point for us. His leadership and experience was sorely missed in the latter part of 2016, so we’re very keen to get him back into the group once his recovery and rehab from his broken leg is complete”
“Michael, Rhys and former Cannons’ Mitch Conn and Dylan Tarczon will be in their 2nd year’s at VFL level in 2017 and with another pre-season under their belts we’re very excited by what they can produce.”
“Regan joined us part way through 2016 and had a great impact at Development League level, so to have him re-commit for 2017 is also fantastic and he will be looking forward to getting through his first VFL preseason which should set his season up nicely.”
These ten players bring the amount of players signed for 2017 to seventeen, joining the likes of Michael Ercolano, Cameron Holdsworth, Josh Iacobaccio, Jack James, Dylan McDonald, Matthew Merlo and Zak Wunhym.
Following the recontracting of these players, we are hopeful of announcing more leading into the pre-season, alongside a few new recruits signed ahead for the 2017 season.
