Pascoe Vale picks up Noble Park gun Craig Anderson and Essendon VFL midfielder Chris Peart

Noble Park stalwart Craig Anderson filed a clearance to the Essendon District Football League club yesterday, calling time at the Bulls after 185 games.

A former Collingwood rookie, Anderson won league best and fairests in the EFL in 2007 and 2011 and was Noble Park’s premiership captain in 2010 and 2011.

Despite now being 36 years old, Pascoe Vale coach Adam Contessa said Anderson could still be a dominant force for the Panthers.

“We watched him in the finals this year with Noble Park and I think he was best-on-ground in the game we watched,” Contessa said.

“He’s super fit. I know age looks a deterrent but when you’re still one of the fittest blokes on the list and you look after your body and all that, that’s what matters.

“He’s been on our radar for a couple of years now but it’s been hard for him to move on but he’s finally made that call now.

“Just his experience and leadership is going to be invaluable to us.”

Pascoe Vale has also signed another gun midfielder, with Essendon VFL and St Bernard’s prime mover Chris Peart making the move to Raeburn Reserve.

The 23-year-old finished sixth in the VAFA’s Premier Division best-and-fairest count in the Snowdogs’ premiership year in 2015 and played five games with the Bombers in the VFL this year.

“He’s a big one for us too,” Contessa said.

Other key signings for Pascoe Vale are defender Paul Bunn (University Blues), forward Zach Peake (Dederang Mt Beauty) and midfielder Brodie Hodson (South Mildura).

“We haven’t really gone out and targeted big-name players,” Contessa said.

“We’ve got six guys on our list who have played AFL footy. We just needed to bolster up with senior experienced guys that we know are going to play senior footy and I think that’s what we’ve done.”