Montrose premiership duo Sam Goodman and Heath Benninga headline recruits at Ferntree Gully
FERNTREE Gully has completed the bulk of its recruiting as the Eagles prepare for their first Division 3 campaign in more than two decades.
The club has secured the services of Montrose captain, Sam Goodman, who will be reunited with his brother Jye at Ferntree Gully, and 2013 premiership midfielder Heath Benninga.
The Eagles have also lured across young East Ringwood utility Jake Crowe, who could be used across half-back and through the midfield.
“The three of those guys, particularly Heath and Jake are beautiful kicks,” Ferntree Gully coach Peter Farrell said.
“Jake will bring a little bit more leg speed to our midfield and Heath will give us some good decision making and experience.
“He will be a good kick from our back half and wing, potentially.”
Farrell said Goodman and Benninga were wanting to step down from the demands of Division 1 football.
“I think Heath at his age was feeling like he was ready to take a step down a division,” he said.
“First division is quite demanding and I think to come and re-establish himself (Goodman) in a new environment is probably not a bad thing for him.”
Four-time Narre Warren premiership key position player Lee Boyle has also linked-up with the club, as have Upper Ferntree Gully duo Brayden Beaton and Ben Rhodes.
The only possible departures from the Eagles are premiership captain Simon Godfrey and Matt Petracca, who kicked five goals in the Division 4 grand final to be named the Frank Bibby medallist as best-on-ground.
Both are weighing up whether to play on in 2017.
“Primarily we have retained 90 per cent of our playing list from this year, which is a good result,” Farrell said.
“We have an abundance of young players coming through so we are excited about what they’re going to bring to the table.
“We want to make sure there is plenty of opportunity and we can continue to build our base.”