Following the announcement of player departures from our VFL Men’s team last week, today we announce the total list of re-committed Lions for the 2022 season.
To this point, 32 of Coburg’s 40 Men’s team list spots have been taken and in the list of 32 players, 26 are returning players from 2021.
The list of returning Lions is as follows:
Luke Nelson, Jesse Corigliano, Jacob Ballard, Sam Lowson, Ryan Exon, Harry Nolan, Tom Silvestro, Ryan Sturgess, Mitch Podhajski, Luke Bunker, Peter McEvoy, Braedyn Gillard, Corey Ellis, Jack Maibaum, Nathan Boucher, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Tom McKenzie, Adam Swierzbiolek, Charlie Thompson, Josh D’Intinosante, Ben Overman, Aaron Clarke, Ben Reddick, Liam Whelan, Ben Jepson and Nathan Howard.
The six new players to the club and then the final eight contracted players will be communicated from November 1st onwards when VFL clearances open up.
When asked about the commitment of these 26 players, club General Manager Sebastian Spagnuolo said:
“We couldn’t be happier and more proud of the ongoing loyalty and commitment of the 26 returning players for the 2022 season. There’s a great balance of experience and youthful talent and we definitely feel that the returning players, along with the work that is being done in recruitment will see the club in a great position to achieve great success in 2022.
The last few years have provided us with the opportunity to develop players and get games into many VFL players and in 2022 we believe all of that hard work, commitment, development and want to succeed will come to the fore.
We thank these players for their ongoing commitment to the club and to achieve such fantastic player retention is testament to the culture that exists from coach Andrew Sturgess, his assistants, our staff and through to all players and club volunteers. Coburg FC is a great place to be and we can not wait to being in each others company again to attack 2022 with great cause for optimism and excitement.”
Of the re-contracted players, Jesse Corigliano is the longest serving player having joined the club in 2015 from the Calder Cannons. Jesse now has 62 club games under his belt and 2022 is his eighth season with the club.
Ryan Exon begins the season with 90 VFL games (61 with Coburg FC) and will be excitedly looking towards achieving the 100 VFL game milestone. Ryan’s great mate from back in their junior football days, Jacob Ballard begins the season on 85 VFL games (seven with Coburg FC) and will also have his sights set on 100.
With their eyes set on 50 VFL games are Luke Bunker (48 games), Sam Lowson (44), Harry Nolan (43) and Jack Maibaum (47 NEAFL & VFL games).
The club will make new player signing announcements in the coming weeks.
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