The Rock-Yerong Creek will showcase the talent of one of the most promising players from the Newcastle region next season, after Max Hillier elected to head south to join his brother Luke at the Magpies.
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The 18-year old represented the Black Diamond League in their convincing representative fixture victory over the Farrer League in Wagga in May this year.
He maintained his form to be named best-and-fairest at his club, Cardiff, and finished in the top handful in the league medal count.
“He’ll play midfield predominantly,” an excited Pies coach, Tom Yates, said.
“He’s just finished school up in Newcastle and he’s in the Swans academy.
“Obviously the accolades he’s got this year are some pretty good achievements for a young fella.”
Capping a big week for the club, Yates also confirmed the recruitment of former Wagga Tigers forward Fergus Inglis and fellow tall option Sam Durnan – who have been playing at Winchelsea in the Geelong League.
The duo is studying agriculture together and have a year of prac work ahead, for which they’ll be based near The Rock.
Inglis played the full 2015 season with Tigers, including enjoying a couple of five-goal hauls.
Durnan has previously played for VAFA Division One club Prahran in Melbourne.
“He’s another fairly good-sized bloke and they say he won’t take a backward step, he goes pretty well,” Yates said.
Days after confirming Narrandera’s Tim Sullivan and Lachie Hunter will join the Magpies, Yates is pleased with the way the squad is coming together.
“It’ll be pretty good – a mixture of middle and young blokes there, which is what I wanted to lead into the year with,” Yates said.
“There’s a bit of youth, a bit of experience and a bit of height.”
Adding depth to their midfield options, TRYC have also picked up Rory Redfern who spent last season with Wagga Tigers reserve grade and is originally from Hay.
“We’ve got a fairly good list of players than can go through the midfield – including Sadds (Andrew Saddler) who’ll be in for a bigger year after he only played half a season,” Yates said.
“And there’s a few more talls at the club which will be good.”
The Pies have lost Josh Ashcroft and are resigned to being without gun centre-half-forward Mitch Ward but haven’t given up hope on spearhead Andy Carey returning depending on his troublesome knee.
