By Daniel Foley
Coburg has secured the services of former Collingwood AFL listed player Sam McLarty as its first new signing for the 2022 VFL season.
The 197cm key position player has experience playing in defence and as a ruck/forward and will be a major boost to the club’s key position stocks for 2022.
McLarty has been a regular presence in the VFL since 2017 playing 47 matches in the competition where he has become known for his strong marking.
After being drafted at Pick 30 in the 2016 AFL Draft and spending two years at the Pies, the 23 year-old joined Williamstown in 2019 and only injury kept him from playing in that year’s VFL Grand Final.
In 2021, McLarty played five matches for Essendon’s VFL program and kicked four goals.
McLarty said he is excited to wear the red and blue next year.
“I’m very looking forward to the opportunity, the team is shaping up to be very exciting,” he said.
“The playing list keeps getting stronger and stronger every year and is earning more and more respect from the competition. I’m quite bullish about what can be achieved by this group.”
“I’ll compete and bring heart in every contest I get. I don’t like losing so I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure we’re the ones singing the song.”
Club General Manager Sebastian Spagnuolo said McLarty brings to the club experience at both AFL and VFL level and a great attitude towards the Lions achieving team success.
“Having someone like Sam join our club is testament to the trajectory that we’re headed so we’re really excited to welcome him to the club,” he said.
“Sam will provide our coaches great flexibility at either end of the ground or in the ruck, that flexibility is what we’ve been looking for.”
Stay tuned for more exciting Coburg Men’s new player signings over the coming days.
