The Courier | Fraser Russell has joined Buninyong in a big recruiting coup by last season’s beaten grand finalists.
The former Carlton-listed player arrives at Bomberland through a connection with forward Jake Dunne and will play with the club during its 2017 Central Highlands Football League campaign.
Russell never started in an AFL match during his time with Carlton, but made 12 VFL senior appearances throughout 2015 for its affiliate, the Northern Blues.
The 24-year-old had an injury interrupted 2016 season, which saw him play just three development league games for the Blues.
A son of former Sydney Swans footballer Mark Russell, the Bombers’ recruit appears its most promising of the off-season.
Russell, an elite runner who is expected to fill a midfield role, joins good friends and recent signings Isaac and Lachlan Baker at the club. The Baker brothers were lured from Torquay and shape as good pick-ups for the Bombers.
Despite the good news, there is some significant departures from the boys in red and black.
Onballer Matt Caris has moved from the region and lodged a clearance to a club in the AFL Queensland ranks.
Caris was lured to Buninyong from Redan last season and shone for the senior side. He finished just two votes behind Bungaree ruckman David Benson in the Geoff Taylor Medal count and was a big part of the Bombers’ success.
Caris’ former Redan teammate Mitch Phelps was another big signing for Buninyong early in last year’s campaign, but he isn’t part of the current squad with his return date from overseas travel unclear.
Meanwhile, long-serving forward Glen Phelps appears unlikely to play with the club given plans to relocate away from the area.
He has been a prolific goal-kicker in recent years, but spent significant time further up the ground in 2016.
Buninyong is still searching for its first senior premiership since 2002 after going down in the decider against Springbank last September.
The senior side will again be guided by Jarrod Morgan, who has taken on the reins solo following the departure of his sidekick Jake Bridges.
Bridges shared the top job with Morgan last season, but has since taken on the senior position at East Point.
Buninyong will officially start its 2017 journey with a grand final rematch against the Tigers on April 1.