A HUGE off-season for Boort Football Club started to come together on Sunday when a bevy of recruits hits the training track.
More than a dozen names, many with VFL and major metropolitan and country league experience, will don the Black and White for the 2024 North Central season.
The aim is simple: improve on the two wins and a draw of last year that saw the Pies competitive for a quarter, two or even three terms under new coach Dale Cameron.
Striving for the fitness that was a redeeming hallmark of 2023, the Pies kicked with a timed run of Little Lake Boort and then into the business of improving defensive skills.
Boort has recruited to boost performance up and down and the field. Will Perryman is back in the nest after two season with Pyramid Hill where he was pivotal in the Bulldogs’ senior performances, only to be dropped for the Loddon Valley league grand final last September as the Dogs juggled their points cap.
Also returning home is James Keeble, a member of the Pies’ last flag side in 2008, and having a career that has included Bendigo Pioneers and the VFL.
Former Brisbane Lion and VFL player with North Ballarat is among the big name recruits who trained on Sunday, expected to make an impact in the midfield.
Jhye Baddeley-Kelly is another playing coming out of VFL ranks after a stint with Coburg.
Versatile Nick Clydesdale has been recruited from Seymour after a lining up with Strathfieldsaye in the Bendigo. Clydesdale is being touted for his versatility to play defence and up forward.
Other key signings are midfielder Nick Whyte from Alice Springs, forward Mitch O’Donoghue from Forrest Hill, Malachi Coleman from Castlemaine, Wade Broadstock from Colbinabbin and ruckman Viv Oldfield.
Departures are few the biggest seeing ruckman Nathan Twigg return to Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
- CHRIS EARL