Melton South defender Lachlan Watkins is looking to make a change in the Ballarat Football League next year.
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He has applied for a clearance to cross-town rival Melton.
It is a big move for Watkins, who has played all his football with the Panthers and is one of their best credentialed players, having been a vice-captain.
Watkins has played more than 80 senior games with Melton South since making his debut as a 16-year-old in 2013.
He was club best and fairest in 2018.
He only played with the Panthers three times this year owing to VFL commitments withy Coburg, but did manage to represent the BFL against Hampden in the AFL Victoria Community Championships at Mars Stadium.
Watkins had two seasons on the Coburg list, but has finished with that venture and will play on a full-time basis in the BFL next season
Melton football manager Brad Jamison said Watkins was looking for a change.
He said Watkins, who was uncontracted, had mates at the Bloods and wanted to play with them.
Given Melton has lost tall forward Mark Orr owing to work commitments in New Zealand, Watkins will give coach Aaron Tymms added options and the ability to play Liam Carter as a permanent key forward rather than in a "swingman" role.
While a substantial pick up for Melton, it is not good news for Melton South as coach Heath Pritchard looks to build his list to lift the Panthers off the bottom of the ladder.
Melton has also picked up James Waters, 21, from North Footscray in the WRFL second division and Adam Forth, 28, Riddell District league club Rockbank.
Waters joined North Footscray this year after playing with Spotswood.
A medium forward, he has been a consistent goalkicker in the past - booting 23 this year.
Billed as a defender, Forth was with Yass in AFL Canberra before getting to Rockbank.
MEANWHILE, new Darley coach Dan Roy is keeping his options open with regard to playing for the Devils next season.
Roy said he was neither ruling it in our out at the moment.
He said if he could get fit enough and show he was still capable of playing at this level he would certainly consider it.
More than once Roy's playing days have looked to be over, with the latest being when he seriously injured a knee when playing with Darley in round one of the 2018 season. He also suffered a broken neck earlier in his career. He made a mid-season comeback with Lorne this year.