Photo: Matt Johnson
Former Newcastle Jets and South Melbourne winger Andy Brennan has joined reigning NPL Victoria Premiers Bentleigh Greens, marking a return of sorts for the prized asset.
The 23-year-old Tasmanian had originally signed for the Greens in 2013 from South Hobart – the club which launched his senior career – where he featured in a handful of pre-season fixtures for the VPL outfit.
However, a niggling injury he was carrying at the time proved to be much more sinister, with an MRI scan revealing a torn groin groin that kept him out of action for the season, with a return home the next port of call.
Before making the move to Victoria, Brennan refined his play style in the Tasmanian Victory League, winning the Golden Boot in the 2011 season as an 18-year-old, before netting a further 24 goals the season after.
The prolific Brennan returned to South Hobart in 2014, where despite a further few injury setbacks, he secured a second Golden Boot after netting 26 goals in a league Best and Fairest winning season.
His form drew the attention of South Melbourne, who snapped him up for their inaugural NPL Victoria campaign.
Although often restricted to coming on from the bench, Brennan impressed heavily for Hellas, netting seven times in all competitions before securing a mid-season move to the Jets under Phil Stubbins.
Brennan made just five appearances for the club in one-and-a-half A-League campaigns, and was released earlier this month to complete his return to Victorian football.
He joins a healthy contingent of attacking talent to join the club, with former Melbourne Knights star Stipo Andrijasevic and Queensland-based Trent Clulow amongst the seven new arrivals in 2017.
Joining the trio are the additions of former Knights fullback Nick Glavan, interstate midfielders Marco Jankovic (Lions FC) and Keanu Moore (Edgeworth FC) as well as young goalkeeper Alex Connell.