The Rock-Yerong Creek have gained further momentum for the upcoming Farrer League season with two prized signings from Canberra.
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The Magpies have snared the signatures of Canberra Demons utility Riley Budd and former AFL Canberra representative player Joseph Hancock.
Budd is a former junior Australian volleyball representative and was considered a draft hope after impressing in the NEAFL for both Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants and Canberra Demons as a teenager.
Now 21, Budd is set to form a key part of TRYC's revival as the Magpies look to return to the Farrer League finals for the first time since 2017.
TRYC co-coach Heath Russell was thrilled to land Budd's signing.
"Riley came through the Giants Academy and was right up there in the talks for draft picks as an 18-year-old," Russell explained.
"He's a good size, a 193 centimetre utility, he's played at the Canberra Demons for the last few years...and he's going to be a massive asset for the footy club."
Budd enjoys playing through the midfield but the Magpies will also look to use him at centre-half-back.
Hancock will slot into TRYC's midfield. He has played more than 100 games for Eastlake and represented AFL Canberra on a couple of occasions.
"He's good friends with a couple of the other boys that were coming and the idea of country footy, he wanted to experience something different," Russell said.
The Magpies' latest recruits join key forwards Dean Biermann and Joey Kerin as big inclusions for TRYC this year.
Russell believes the recruits fit exactly what the Magpies were after.
"When Brad (Aiken) and I signed on, we obviously wanted to support the boys we had by adding some top quality to what we already have," he said.
"The last time the footy club played, we have lost a lot of quality players so we recognised we had to replace some key areas in the side so to get these boys is a massive boost for the club.
"They've all played at a higher level so the direction and leadership they'll be able to offer, on and off the field, is massive as well."
Among the losses the Magpies are looking to replace are former coaches Tom Yates and Andy Carey, best and fairest winner Jim Carroll and Lachy Myers.
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