RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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WAGGA Tigers has kicked off its recruitment campaign with the signings of two players fresh from the North Eastern Australian Football League (NEAFL) competition.
Skilful midfielder Pat Delaney will return home to Wagga Tigers as an assistant coach and be joined by fellow Belconnen player Drew McGrath at Robertson Oval next season.
Tigers fought off bids from rival clubs to land the signatures of the two midfielders.
Delaney and classy defender John Anstee will step up to share the vacant assistant coaching position.
Both Delaney and McGrath will soon relocate to Wagga.
Wagga Tigers coach Matt Rava welcomed the addition of another two quality footballers.
"Pat was keen to move back to Wagga and already had a job so that was the easy one," Rava said.
"We managed to get Drew a job as well so he's going to move here.
"Pat is a midfield, flank, type that has played in the NEAFL in Canberra and has been going all right.
"He works pretty hard and is a good mover, which is handy especially when some of our young blokes, like Charlie Bance and Jacko Kelly will be playing a lot of rep footy."
The two signings help offset the loss of defenders Ben Davis and Jack Collins.
Both enjoyed outstanding first years at Tigers last season but have planned overseas trips next year.
McGrath arrives off an injury-interrupted season but will bolster Tigers' midfield ranks.
"Drew is apparently a real in and under type that gets in and gets the hard ball," Rava explained.
"That suits us because we need that around the place.
"He's played plenty of TAC Cup footy as well."
Tigers are also rapt to promote Anstee to an assistant's role.
"I didn't have anyone this year and asked John about it and he couldn't fit it in with his uni commitments," Rava said.
"Now that Pat will be an assistant coach, and do some work with the midfield, John can do it as there is someone else as well and not all the focus is on him.
"He'll be good, he really stepped up as captain when I was out injured this year, and hopefully now he'll step up a bit more."
Tigers hope to announce further signings in the next couple of weeks.
The only other potential loss is young key forward Angus Durnan to Melbourne.