Young talents Jake McQueen and Jack Ganley have left the reigning premiers for the Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray Football League.

McQueen joined East Point in 2017 and split his time between the Roos and the North Ballarat Roosters, who were then competing in the VFL.

A VFL contract with Essendon beckoned in 2018, though McQueen remained committed to East Point and played in its premiership side.

McQueen was also named among the Roos' best in the 2019 grand final win against Sebastopol.

A fractured wrist limited the lively forward to just four games in 2021.

Jack Ganley was a mid-2020 recruit from Ararat, alongside brother Harry.

The big-bodied mid impressed in his maiden BFNL season; playing every game and kicking 13 goals.

McQueen and Ganley are the latest in a growing list of players leaving Eastern Oval.

VFL-linked Joel Ottavi, who kicked 77 goals in 22 games across three seasons for the Roos, has nominated Buninyong as his home club for 2022.

Ottavi played his junior football for the Bombers before crossing to East Point in 2018.

Premiership player Lachlan Thornton has moved to the Central Highlands Football League and Bungaree with young onballer Ben Dodd in tow.

Reigning BFNL reserves best-and-fairest Jack McClure has joined Skipton.

Coming the other way is former Essendon midfielder Jackson Merrett, while the Roos will also be boosted by an under-19's class that includes Dick Rees Memorial Trophy winner Jack Sampi and senior debutants Josh Carlye-Marks and Lachlan Charleson.

Charleson became just the third 16-year-old to play senior football in the club's history.

If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.