Forest Hill lands new recruits as it aims to end Eastern Football League’s longest flag drought
FOREST Hill is positioning itself to end the Eastern Football League’s longest current premiership drought with a bevy of new recruits.
The Zebras have landed former VFL development player Austin Deneys, who played with Port Melbourne in 2015 before travelling this year.
Rowville 2012 premiership player Cody Morris has also linked up with the Zebras, creating a dangerous combo with full forward Matt Carnelley.
Justin Scicluna, who has taken on an assistant coaching position, and former skipper Justin Pilcher will both return after spending 2016 with Mt Evelyn.
Strong bodied midfielder Chris Hatzis has come across from Carrum Patterson Lakes, as has young Rowville ruckman Nathan Palmer and Dan Gregg-Mantle from Ormond.
Aside from retired veteran Christian Holdsworth and Nathan Jumeau, who has joined Fitzroy Amateurs, coach Martin Stillman said the Zebras have re-signed their 2016 list as they aim to end a 33-year premiership drought.
He said the club had tried to be as proactive as possible on the recruiting front.
“All we are trying to do is establish our list as quickly as possible and once we have re-signed our 2016 list and secured our new recruits, have the list finalised for the commencement of training,” he said.
“We’ve got a fairly strong list, it was just about identifying some areas, what we have looked at is where there has been a key player that has committed to moving on, we’ve ensured to try replace a like with a like.
“There is a couple more players we are talking to but realistically we’ve tried to be as proactive as we can as early as we can to finalise our list.”