Weekly Times |
Sunraysia Football League club Red Cliffs this week revealed it had landed former Essendon player Andrew Lovett, a close friend of current Tigers player Shannon Motlop.
In the Ovens and Murray league, Corowa-Rutherglen secured dual SANFL premiership player Brett Zorzi, who was best afield in Norwood’s grand final win over North Adelaide last year.
Zorzi, who played at the Northern Bullants before his South Australian stint, is expected to debut for the Roos next month.
Red Cliffs coach Troy Moncur said the Tigers had been in talks with Lovett for “a couple of months”.
“It all came about through Shannon (Motlop), they’re good friends,” Moncur said.
“It looked like a real long shot a couple of months ago but we’re very happy Andrew has been able to commit just before clearances closed.
“He was looking to go to Western Australia to work in the mines but we stayed in contact with him and in the end he’s decided to come and have a kick with Shannon.”
Lovett, 31, played 88 games for Essendon from 2005-09 and pulled on the boots for Deer Park in the Western Region Football League last year.
Moncur said Lovett was based in Melbourne but travelling north on Thursdays for training and staying until Saturday’s game.
“We’ve spoken to him about staying up here for a few weeks once we get a bit closer to finals, just to make it easier for everyone,” he said.
Lovett’s signing is a further boost for Red Cliffs after the club last weekend steamrolled the previously unbeaten Irymple by 75 points.
“It was great just to put it all together and play a good game against a side that consistently plays finals,” Moncur said.
“Hopefully we can build on last week’s performance as we head deeper into the season.
“We’re not scared to say we want the ultimate success and that’s what we’re working towards.”
The June 30 clearances deadline also signals the end of Brendan Fevola’s gun-for-hire roadshow.
Fevola will play for Geelong West in the Geelong and District league on June 29 in his seventh cameo appearance this season.
He has also played for Edenhope-Apsley, Kangaroo Flat, Rockingham (Western Australia), Kinglake, Woodend-Hesket and Lindenow, along with his 10 appearances for home club Yarrawonga.
