RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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MANGOPLAH-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes' impressive off-season recruitment spree has been dealt a serious blow with the loss of leading goalkicker Ryan Price.
The Goannas have made serious inroads this off-season with the addition of three quality recruits from outside the region but has been hit with the loss of Price � the club's biggest departure yet.
Price returned for one season at MCUE and kicked 38 goals for the Goannas as he rotated between full-forward, half-forward and the midfield.
Price, 24, will move to London on a two-year working visa in January and plans to be overseas for a minimum of 12 months.
"I loved playing at Mango again but the time's right now to travel while I'm still young," Price said yesterday.
"I've got a lot of mates there and one day in the future I want to come back and play again."
Price, a MCUE junior, returned to the club this season after four years with the Illawarra Lions in the AFL Sydney competition while in Wollongong for university.
He added class and a much-needed target to the Goannas' forward line and earnt Riverina Football League representative honours.
His silky skills and efficiency will be missed as MCUE looks to climb from this year's fifth-place finish.
Price said it was an unfortunate time to leave the club.
"Things are looking good with a couple of new recruits," Price said.
"All the younger kids are one-year older too and will be pretty strong now.
"Hopefully they'll go all right."
The loss of Price continues an exodus of quality players leaving the RFL this off-season.
MCUE has been able to put itself in a good position with the addition of new assistant coach Nic Casey and travelling Melbourne-based pair Col Sanbrook and Andrew Pettigrove.
The Goannas have now lost eight players but Price is considered the only significant blow with the others all being in and out of first grade.
Price, a talented sportsman, plans to play Australian football and cricket while in London.