COLEAMBALLY has snagged arguably the biggest off-season Farrer League signing yet, announcing gun key position player Fred Stephan as the club’s first recruit for 2014.
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Stephan, 20, comes from playing first grade in the Geelong Football League where he managed 16 games for St Mary’s this year.
He is a 193cm swingman, who can also play in the ruck but spends his time predominantly at centre halfback.
His arrival at the Blues came purely through coincidence.
Stephan’s university course requires him to spend 12 months working on an irrigation property and, luckily, there were plenty to choose from around Coleambally.
Blues president Shane Mannes was quick to pounce on the opportunity to sign him.
“We heard he was after a job for his uni course, and a few blokes involved in the club were looking for someone to work on their property,” Mannes explained.
“Which was really handy for us.
“He’s a big fella, he can basically play anywhere, and he’s got to be handy if he was playing in that (Geelong) league.”
Stephan should arrive in town some time in January and will be stationed at Coleambally for at least a year. He is expected to free up fellow swingman Simon Mackie to spend more time at centre half forward, as he did during much of the 2013 season.
“That’s the idea,” Mannes said.
“But (Stephan) can also play in the ruck or even key forward if we need him to.”
It’s the first signing made under new coach Mitch Carroll and Mannes confirmed the club was not done with its off-season recruiting.
The Blues have so far confirmed former coach Andrew McGown will not return to the paddock, after sustaining his third serious knee injury in the space of two years late in the season.
Talented young player Mitch Barry has also indicated a move to Melbourne is on the cards but is yet to confirm his departure.
Lanky ruckman Aaron Hardie is reportedly recovering well from a serious car crash early in the year and Mannes hopes to have him fit for the start of 2014.
It is unknown whether gun ruckman Ryan Bull will pull on the boots for the club again or not.
Stephan, 20, comes from playing first grade in the Geelong Football League where he managed 16 games for St Mary’s this year.
He is a 193cm swingman, who can also play in the ruck but spends his time predominantly at centre halfback.
His arrival at the Blues came purely through coincidence.
Stephan’s university course requires him to spend 12 months working on an irrigation property and, luckily, there were plenty to choose from around Coleambally.
Blues president Shane Mannes was quick to pounce on the opportunity to sign him.
“We heard he was after a job for his uni course, and a few blokes involved in the club were looking for someone to work on their property,” Mannes explained.
“Which was really handy for us.
“He’s a big fella, he can basically play anywhere, and he’s got to be handy if he was playing in that (Geelong) league.”
Stephan should arrive in town some time in January and will be stationed at Coleambally for at least a year. He is expected to free up fellow swingman Simon Mackie to spend more time at centre half forward, as he did during much of the 2013 season.
“That’s the idea,” Mannes said.
“But (Stephan) can also play in the ruck or even key forward if we need him to.”
It’s the first signing made under new coach Mitch Carroll and Mannes confirmed the club was not done with its off-season recruiting.
The Blues have so far confirmed former coach Andrew McGown will not return to the paddock, after sustaining his third serious knee injury in the space of two years late in the season.
Talented young player Mitch Barry has also indicated a move to Melbourne is on the cards but is yet to confirm his departure.
Lanky ruckman Aaron Hardie is reportedly recovering well from a serious car crash early in the year and Mannes hopes to have him fit for the start of 2014.
It is unknown whether gun ruckman Ryan Bull will pull on the boots for the club again or not.
