Murray Football League has welcomed an injection of extra ex-AFL talent for season 2024.
Following the off-season movements of Brett Deledio to Tongala and Dayne Beams’ commitment to Mulwala, Finley is the latest MFL club to boost its chances with a high-profile signing.
Recently the Cats announced the signing of former Greater Western Sydney and Carlton midfielder Mark Whiley to its stocks for the looming campaign.
Finley announced the signing in a statement posted to its social media account.
“The Finley FNC are thrilled to announce the signing of former junior Mark Whiley,” the statement read.
“With work commitments seeing Mark return to Finley, the opportunity to return to his junior club and work with coach, Jordan Taylor and our young group was exciting for him.”
Whiley, a Finley junior, comes across from Ovens and Murray powerhouse Yarrawonga, where he featured 21 times in the Pigeons’ 2023 flag-winning campaign.
He last donned Finley colours in 2009, captaining the Cats during their under-17 premiership campaign before departing for the Murray Bushrangers in 2010.
Whiley was picked up by GWS as a NSW zone selection prior to the 2010 AFL draft, playing 12 times for the Giants between 2012 and 2014.
The 188cm mid was then traded to Carlton in 2014, bouncing between AFL and VFL duties for the Blues before heading north-east for Yarrawonga.
There, he picked up the coaching baton and later led the Pigeons to a grand final berth against Wangaratta in 2022, but narrowly missed out on the main prize by an agonising three-point margin.
The following year, Whiley handed the reins to AFL great Steve Johnson.
It paid dividends as Yarrawonga scored premiership success with an 11.10 (76) to 10.12 (72) triumph in the big dance over Albury.
However, Whiley’s new escapade may be his most demanding in recent years.
Finley bowed in the 2023 semi-finals, and despite mass recruitment under new Cats coach, Whiley’s former O&M rival in ex-Wodonga Bulldogs coach Jordan Taylor, the competition has gone up a notch.
Last year’s MFL grand finalists Mulwala and Congupna remain the teams to beat, but Whiley’s introduction does elevate Finley’s status as a genuine flag fancy.