IT'S been a big week for recruiting in the Ballarat region with several high profile stars finding new homes ahead of 2013 season.
At the top of the list is four-time Henderson medallist Jarrod Edwards, who has walked out on powerhouse Redan for cross-town rival North Ballarat City.
Edwards has tasted premiership success with Lions on four separate occasions but opted to return to the club where his football career began.
The ferocious on-baller played all is junior football with North Ballarat before becoming a force with the Roosters' VFL side.
Despite entering the twilight of his career, Edwards is a significant coup for the men in black and white, sure to add much needed grunt to their engine room.
Another former Ballarat league star to put pen to paper this week was key forward Paul McMahon, who chose Central Highlands league club Springbank over a host of other suitors.
McMahon, a premiership player with Lake Wendouree and rated one of the best country footballers in Victoria, spent last season playing with the North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL.
Despite rumours of a deal including extraordinary match payments, the Tigers say they were able to secure McMahon’s service through a pooling of resources from within the club that will help renovate their prized recruit’s house.
Sunbury was also in the headlines this week with the return of premiership hero Simon Clarke. The key position star was best-on-ground in Sunbury’s Ballarat league grand final win last season but was cleared to Melbourne club St Bernard’s over summer.
But after a change of heart, Clarke has now returned to the Lions in a move that makes them favourite to claim back-to-back flags.
