Clubs across the Goulburn Valley League have made moves and some of the most eye-raising off-season signings have come from outside the usual contenders.
On the field as well as the court, clubs have dealt in marquee names and puzzle pieces alike, with some busier than others.
AFL Goulburn Murray’s premier division has welcomed plenty of exciting new acquisitions, with one or two blockbuster moves between clubs within the league as well.
The News ranks its five highest-profile signings made by GVL clubs ahead of season 2024.
5: Ella completes the three Bears
Mooroopna’s netball ranks showed more promise than ever before in 2023.
At long last, the club broke its drought when the 17-and-under Cats broke through for the Cats’ first netball premiership at any level since joining the GVL.
Meanwhile, their A-grade girls finished second and only narrowly fell to Euroa in a hard-fought preliminary final.
The offensive stocks have taken a blow, though, with talented goaler Ella Ogier heading to join sisters Charlotte and Genna at Shepparton.
The former San Jose State University basketballer has a busy plate, having committed to the Victorian Netball League’s Western Warriors and NBL1’s Melbourne Tigers.
That said, Ogier’s arrival should immensely complement a handy young crop coming up, with the likes of Keeley O’Dwyer and Ruby Higgins having every chance of featuring at the highest level in 2024.
4: Tatura brings a Power-ful name home
Tatura has lofty goals for 2024 after a mediocre eighth-placed finish with a 5-13 record.
To demonstrate their intent, Paul Barnard’s Bulldogs have made the statement by signing a locally-bred big gun.
Former Port Adelaide midfielder Aidyn Johnson, a native of Moama, has committed to GVL football following 11 games with the Power and more recent spells with Sturt and Richmond’s VFL side before competing in the EDFL for Avondale Heights last season.
The move brought additional benefits, with running defender Jhdara Jones committing to the Bulldogs shortly afterwards as a friend of Johnson’s.
It’s a big name back for his first full season close to home since a pandemic-interrupted campaign with Echuca three years ago and he shapes as a key signature.
Johnson’s recruitment forms one major part of a promising off-season overhaul under Barnard’s stewardship, with multiple former Queensland regional representatives later confirmed to call the Kennel home this year.
3: The boys are back in town
Shepparton has made no bones about it: the Bears are going back to the future in putting their 2024 list together.
Shepparton last tasted premiership success in 2018 and, in search of improvement after finishing two games outside finals in seventh last season, Ted Lindon's side has bolstered its experience with a few signatures who know a thing or two about flags.
The Bears announced a hat-trick of past premiership players coming home in the form of Liam Duguid, Mitchell Brett and Ash Holland — but these are no has-beens.
All three were involved in premiership success a few months ago, with Duguid and Brett sharing spoils at Golden Square in the Bendigo system.
Closer to home, Holland savoured two straight titles with Waaia in Picola District Football League.
At the time, Lindon insisted there was no particular recruiting strategy geared towards luring home those who delivered bygone glory.
However you look at it, though, the Bears are reassembling an imposing machine and should prime themselves to improve on their negative 2023 record.
2: Reid’s all about it
Unfortunately for Kyabram, multiple key personnel have packed up and headed east.
The Bombers lost immense talent on the netball side of their operations when prodigious midcourter Hollie Reid swapped the red sash for Euroa's black and white stripes.
Only a few in this region boast the resume Reid has amassed during her GVL exploits — much less at just 20 years of age.
A 2023 GVL interleague representative and three-time best-and-fairest at Kyabram, Reid's future as one of the competition's premier centres is undoubtedly bright — though her present may be equally so in moving to the Magpies.
The 2023 minor premiers and eventual runners-up are poised to reap great rewards with this addition, while Kyabram has lost a gem on the courts in addition to its raft of departures on the field.
1: It could be Mundy on the weekend
Unquestionably, the marquee arrival in this GVL off-season is the homecoming of Fremantle legend David Mundy to his boyhood Seymour.
Even as the 38-year-old puts pen to paper on a part-time basis — he still has his Perth-based media commitments to juggle — the town itself was in a frenzy of excitement upon receiving word.
The former Dockers captain, All-Australian and best-and-fairest accomplished just about everything during his club-record 376 games in the Freo purple, including a fair few in the iconic 2000s ‘anchor’ guernsey.
At the time of his signing in December, the plan was to play whenever Fremantle travels to Melbourne, where the Dockers have four matches scheduled, to keep up his radio appearances.
By that token, Mundy can’t fill the massive void of Jack O’Sullivan’s departure week in and week out.
However, coach Ben Davey alluded to more potential appearances if and when he visits the area for family commitments.
Expect the former Lions junior to light up the park when he gets involved, though — especially if Seymour embarks on another deep finals campaign.