It’s an inexact science, recruitment, but the Northern Jets believe they’ve hit the mark this time – signing four new faces who could rocket them into contention next season.
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Ruckman Joshua Plozza has already moved to the area, after joining the Jets from Mallee League club Walpeup-Underbool, while three Canberra-based players will turn out for the Farrer League club after two years in the Hume League.
Former Rand-Walbundrie trio Justin Mesman, Mark Kimball and Tim Gray all had NEAFL experience with Canberra club Eastlake before joining the Tigers in 2014.
New co-coach Sam Fisher was excited to confirm the club’s first signings since he joined Darren Jackson at the helm.
“We’re pretty happy with our recruiting, we’ve had a couple of successful weeks,” Fisher said.
Centre-half-back Mesman was the Tigers best and fairest last season – an award he’s also won at Eastlake – while Kimball took the honours in their first year at the Hume League club.
“They’re all that 28, 29, 30 age group and they’ll bring that bit of experience that we need, and one of them is that forward we were looking for,” Fisher said.
Gray, who kicked nine goals in the last three games this year, is a centre-half-forward who will be a big asset alongside Mick Foster in the forward line.
The players had links to the Jets through former Eastlake player Declan O’Rourke, who will travel with them next year.
Plozza, meanwhile, is the big man the Jets need in the middle according to Fisher, who highlighted his fourth placing in the Mallee League medal count this year.
“He’s a very handy player – a versatile tall man who can play a bit up forward,” he said.
“He’s only 24-years old but he’s a pretty accomplished footballer and, moving down here, we’ll get a full pre-season out of him.”
Plozza visited the Jets during the season and with the five-team Mallee League folding decided to make the move north.
He was named in his team’s best five times in 15 games last season, and seven times during 2014.
The Jets finished seventh this year but were left ruing some close losses early in the season after missing the finals only on percentage.
“Those couple of older heads we’ve recruited, hopefully they can help steady the ship,” Fisher said.
The Jets’ only departure so far is Ciaran O’Rourke, with work commitments ruling him out of travelling again next year, but they’re confident of retaining the rest of their players.
However the future of young gun Lachlan Flagg is uncertain, with the talented youngster still to confirm where he’ll be next season after finishing school this year.
