South West Football League: Five players to watch in 2024 season

Jordan Strahan (Harvey) Harvey have made one of the biggest signings of the summer — getting power forward Jordan Strahan on board. After kicking 113 goals across three years with South Bunbury, the powerful forward spent last season with Mines Rovers in the Goldfields Football League, finishing second on the league’s goal-kicking charts with 76 majors from his 15 games. Strahan is one of several impressive recruits as part of a summer of change for the Bulls, who have also had local product Braden Fimmano and former East Fremantle stalwart Ryan Lester-Smith join the club under new coach Kurt Haunold. Prolific goal-kicker Brad Holmes, last year’s Hayward Medal runner up Andrew Haydon (both South Mandurah) and former AFL star Harley Bennell (Bencubbin) are among their departures as they aim to improve on last year’s seventh-placed finish. Kobe Foster (Eaton) As Eaton look to improve on a 2023 season which saw them finish on the bottom of the ladder with only two wins, they have landed a big recruit for their front-half stocks, securing the signature of young gun Kobe Foster for their 2024 campaign. The 193cm forward comes to the club with plenty of upside, having booted 43 goals in 19 games with Centrals as part of their premiership-winning Peel Football and Netball League campaign last year after kicking 15 majors in eight games with East Perth’s WAFL colts side in 2022. Foster will be joined by fellow young additions Jack Saunders, Liam Chinnery (both Swan Districts) and Joel Moore (Aveley JFC) as the Boomers look to start their campaign on a winning note when they take on Collie at Collie Recreation Ground this weekend. Matt Martin (Donnybrook) On the other end of the experience spectrum, Donnybrook have bagged the league’s all-time leading goal-kicker Matt Martin as they push for a breakthrough premiership. Martin, who has booted 611 goals across 11 seasons with Carey Park and Bunbury, re-joined the Bulldogs last season after a three-year stint with Albany in the Great Southern Football League, showing he still had plenty to give with a 59-goal campaign. He will replace Hayward Medal winner Jeff Smith, who has retired. Several members of the famous Jetta family — headed by Sydney and West Coast premiership star Lewis — will feature at different stages this season as the Dons play at Boyanup Oval, with their home at VC Mitchell Park undergoing renovations. Simon Moore (Dunsborough) Simon Moore’s four seasons with Augusta-Margaret River were filled with glory, winning two premierships to go with two Hayward Medals. But the experienced midfielder has opted to move to the competition’s newest club this season, signing on with Dunsborough. Moore shapes as a massive inclusion for the Sharks as they enter their second season in the league looking to improve on last year’s ninth-placed finish. Last year’s leading goal-kicker Nic Reid has returned to his junior club North Beach but Bunbury premiership player Kyle Watts and Busselton pair Thomas Vellios and Jaice Pardi will further bolster the club’s stocks. Ty Anderson (Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault) Speedster Ty Anderson is back with the Lions on a full-time basis after spending much of the past two seasons with Peel Thunder in the WAFL. He played 32 league games across two seasons with the Thunder, including last year’s grand final loss to East Fremantle, and also spent some time training with their alignment partner Fremantle. Anderson headed to the State league after winning HBL’s best and fairest in 2021 and will return to the competition as a better player, putting him firmly in contention for this year’s Hayward Medal award.