East Wagga-Kooringal will unleash Lavington recruit Nico Sedgwick on the Farrer League this season.
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Sedgwick sunk the hearts of the Farrer League with a dynamic last-quarter to help Hume League win the inter-league clash between the two last season.
He will now line up in the competition, joining the Hawks after the cancellation of the Ovens and Murray League last week.
Sedgwick spent the last six seasons at Hume League club Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock, where he established himself as one of the elite players of the competition.
He had decided to return to Lavington for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to those plans.
Sedgwick won the 2014 Azzi Medal for the best and fairest in the Hume League, on top of three premierships with the Saints.
He also won the Ovens and Murray League rising star award after 21 previous senior games at Lavington.
A close friendship with EWK ruckman Kyle North-Flanagan prompted the move and EWK coach Matt Hard was more than happy to accommodate the accomplished midfielder.
"I'm very happy to pick up a quality person and quality player for 2020," Hard said.
"He'll add a bit of everything. Obviously a bit of pace, he's a smart footballer, he wins his own ball, which is good. He'll be a great addition to our midfield."
Sedgwick will have a bit more match fitness than most Farrer League footballers after playing three games for Wanderers in the Northern Territory before Christmas.
Sedgwick conceded he received a lot of interest from clubs but explained that the Hawks were a standout.
"I have a couple of mates in Kyle North-Flanagan and Nick Ryan at the club who I do a bit of hunting and fishing with," Sedgwick said.
"Their coach Matt Hard gave me a call and he seemed a really genuine bloke and a good club to play for.
"Matt said they were only going to target one or two recruits.
"I had about eight other clubs ring me but they are all trying to recruit a stack of players
"So I thought I would sign with East Wagga-Kooringal."
EWK have also secured the services of Wagga Tigers premiership-winning midfielder Jacob Osbeiston.
They have also added promising young footballer Daniel Brock, who recently moved to the region. He tied for the Kyabram and District under 18 league medal last year but was ruled out ineligible. The Stanhope teen was named the league rising star in 2018.
Hard is rapt with the midfield depth he will have at his disposal.
"Jacob was obviously training with us pre-COVID, he's also an experienced player, a premiership player with Wagga Tigers. We're very excited to get Jacob on board also," Hard said.
"Obviously it should compliment Nick Ryan, Harry Fitzsimmons and a few of those other guys going through there. It's good midfield depth."
The Hawks were generally considered the team to beat before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and have done their chances no harm with the further arrivals of Sedgwick, Osbeiston and Brock.
Fellow Ovens and Murray League recruit Daniel McCarthy has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
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