Former Carlton player Paul Bower will line up with Melton South in the Ballarat Football League next season.
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Bower joins the Panthers after playing in a Western Region league division one premiership with Deer Park this year.
The 30-year-old is the first major signing for Melton South and head coach Heath Pritchard, who is embarking on his first full year in charge after taking over in a caretaker role midway through last season.
Bower’s arrival is major boost for the Panthers, which finished on the bottom with just the one win and has confirmed it will be without pivotal midfielder Mark Lynch in 2019.
Bower continues what has been a strong Carlton flavour among eastern bloc teams in the BFL in the past few years.
Brendan Fevola had two seasons at Melton Recreation Reserve, while Heath Scotland is going to a third year as Darley coach.
The Devils have also added newly delisted Blue Nick Graham to their stocks.
Bower was best known as a defender in his 90-game career with Carlton, but should provide Melton South with a key option for either end of the ground.
The 190cm Bower was recruited by Carlton from WAFL club Peel Thunder with pick 20 in the 2005 national AFL draft.
He made his AFL debut late in 2006 and spent seven seasons with the Blues.
He returned to Peel Thunder in 2013 – representing the WAFL against the VFL – before making the move back to Victoria a year later to play with Heidelberg in the Northern league.
Bower was a best and fairest, and multiple premiership player with Heidelberg.
Bower moved to Deer Park this year and was named in its best eight times.
THE 2019 Ballarat Football Netball League season will start on Saturday, April 13.
The BFNL is planning to have the fixture released before the end of the year.
SMYTHESDALE will learn this week whether or not its bid to join the Mininera and District league has been successful.
Mininera and District clubs have been given until Wednesday to vote on the Bulldogs’ request to join its ranks for season 2019.
This vote follows the league’s annual general meeting where Smythesdale members put forward the club’s case for admission.
Mininera and District president John Box has said there needed to be a 75 per cent majority in favour of the move to allow Smythesdale entry into the league for 2019.
The Bulldogs have played in the Central Highlands competition since 2011.
