Bulls trade for a competitive edge

With clearances beginning to flow Carey Park, Harvey Bulls and Busselton have emerged as early movers and shakers in the South West Football League.

Harvey has clearances granted or pending for no less than nine players, the list highlighted by former Docker and Saint Craig Callaghan, Peel Thunder ruckman Phillip Pohlenz-Saw and ex-Panther and 2013 Lower South West Football League standout Chris Rintoul.

Tall timber Andrew Rake will also return to the Bulls after spending a season with Carey Park.

Harvey will lose young gun Brandon Jetta, brother of Sydney Swan Lewis, to the Panthers, with Carey Park also waiting on clearances for a further seven players.

Goldfields Football League leading goal kicker Rodney Jetta looks set to join the Panthers while a quartet of Southerners players – Scott and David Roche, Shane De Campo and Leigh Scaini – will pull on the red and navy in 2014.

Brothers Chris and Michael McMillan are also likely to return.

Carey Park coach John Baggetta said the heavy recruitment came in response to low numbers in the junior ranks of the club.

“We don’t have a big junior base so we’re looking at anyone that has been part of the club previously and trying to get them back to the Panthers, ” he said.

“Scott (Roche), Michael (McMillan), Chris (McMillan) and Chris (Rintoul) all played in 2009 when we won a flag and Scott and Michael were around for the 2008 premiership as well.

“Every player we’re bringing in has something to offer to the club — Scaini for example kicked 35 goals last year and he is still young so moving into the SWFL will be a good challenge for him.”

But it is not all good news for the Panthers who, along with Rake, will also lose Joel Coyne, Jason Winwood and Callum Leslie.

Busselton will be buoyed by the return of South Fremantle and Swan Districts utility Kyle Hams and a pair of players who plied their trade in Queensland in 2013.

Onballer Nathan Bradbury, joint 2005 Hayward Medallist, will suit up for the Magpies after playing for the Manunda Hawks last season and is followed west by Noosa Tiger’s Stuart Allen.

Adam Booth will also play for the Magpies after turning out in four games for Imperials in 2013.

Donnybrook will miss Chris Billings and Kris Clarkson, who are both returning to Perth, while Eaton will be without exciting young ruckman Joshua Branchi who has been cleared to South Fremantle.