Narrandera have been boosted by the arrival of a couple of ruckmen for next season.
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The Eagles secured the signing of Ainslie ruckman Ben Perry and have also welcomed fellow big man Isaac Bunge to the club.
Bunge spent this season with Parkes but previously played at Tallangatta where he won the reserve grade league medal in 2016.
Narrandera co-coach Jamie Grintell is pleased to welcome some tall timber on board.
“Ben’s going to be a pretty big addition for us, especially with us getting Isaac now too,” Grintell said.
“To have two big ruckmen will be really handy. It will give us some options as well.”
Perry played in Ainslie’s premiership last year and also represented AFL Canberra.
He will travel from Canberra with Corey Baxter, Matt Renet and Blake Renet, who are all returning for a second year at the Eagles.
“He’s a big fella and he can also play back as well, which will be handy,” Grintell said.
“We thought we had him this year but he decided against it so it’s good to get him this time.”
Bunge has moved to Narrandera through employment.
He was runner up in Parkes’ best and fairest this year and also kicked 17 goals for the wooden spooners in the Central West competition.
“He’s going to be good and he gives us another forward option as well,” Grintell said.
“We’ve got Macauley Smith, who is just as big as them too, that we want to blood as well so we’ve got a few options.”
Jarred Lane, the Eagles’ former coach and Jim Quinn Medallist, is still undecided about his playing future but the club remains hopeful he will play at Narrandera next season.
He is holidaying in Western Australia and is not expected to make a decision until the new year.
Narrandera have also welcomed back Luke Patterson from Western Australia, but appear to have lost Damian Williams, Michael Cummins and Jacob Anderson.
A dozen or so Narrandera players have already begun preparations for next year but official pre-season training starts on January 15.
Grintell still hopes to add another midfielder to Narrandera’s squad.
“We need another on-baller but we’ll keep poking along and see if we get one,” he said.
“Our young fellas will come on a bit more again and we’ll win a couple of games hopefully.”
Grintell will be joined in the coaching role by Shaun Brooker as the pair look to take the Eagles back up the ladder after two winless seasons.
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