Champion goalkicker and new joint coach Brendan Fevola has been named with seven other recruits for Melton South as it embarks on a quest for a first Ballarat Football League premiership.
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He is one of four AFL-experienced players selected by the Panthers to face Melton in a standalone season opener at Melton Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Fevola, who crosses from Deer Park, is joined by former Essendon duo Nick Kommer and Tayte Pears, and Mitch Banner, who played with Port Adelaide after progressing through Melton South’s junior pathway and spending last year with Darley.
They provide a whole new formula for Melton South, which failed to win a game last year.
Mark Lynch (Aberfeldie), Ben Peters (Gordon), Munir El Houli (Newport) and Adam El Houli (Deer Park) are other additions who will line up under Fevola and his joint coach Sean Triplett.
Ruckman Craig Searle is also back for what will be his first appearance in two seasons after a knee injury, He has not played since the start of 2015.
Melton also has a new look about it with Gus Grigg (Aberfeldie), Ben Archard (Cohuna) and Matt Huckstepp (Greenvale) all adding strength and key position power, along with Damon Falzon (Norwood, EFL).
The Bloods also have brothers Lachlan (Northern Blues) and Jaycob (Coburg Tigers) Hickey, and Connor Griffths (Western Jets) and Ryan Carter back from VFL and TAC Cup commitments on a permanent basis.
Melton coach Brad Murphy has much more big manpower to work with in the form of the 25-year-old Grigg, Archard and Huckstepp.
Big interest will be in who Melton mans up on Fevola. Huckstepp, 21, is a possibility – being a specialist defender on the comeback trail after hip trouble.
Archard, 23, is likely to have the job of taking on Melton South’s Ben Sortino in the ruck, while Grigg will be the spearhead in attack.
Grigg said one of the reasons he made the move to Melton was the bigger grounds in the BFL, which would give him much more scope as a leading forward. Ironically, his first outing is on the smallest BFL venue.
While Melton South has bolstered its top end with high profile additions, the Panthers have also found room for promising youngster Billy Sullivan. He had a taste of senior last season while still playing under-18.5s.
PREDICTION: Melton South
