Photo: Andrew Lincoln/Daily Post
Regional outfits Goulburn Valley Suns, Ballarat City and Bendigo City have bolstered their squads with various signings.
The Goulburn Valley Suns have secured the services of foreigners Rob Hughes (feature image) and Liam Baxter ahead of their 2017 NPL2 campaign.
Welshman Hughes joins the regional-based outfit from Welsh Premier League side Rhyl, whom he joined in 2014, having previously featured for local rivals Prestatyn Town.
An exciting winger, Hughes is expected to add plenty of speed an penetration down the flanks at McEwen Reserve, with the 24 year-old also capable of adding plenty of goals.
Hughes was recommended to the club by former Rhyl teammate and ex- Goulburn North East Football Association import Carl Lamb.
25-year-old Baxter is a centre-forward who moves to Shepparton from Scottish fifth tier side Forres Mechanics, whom he joined in 2015.
His previous club sides included fellow lower league teams Brora Rangers and Buckie Thistle, with the frontman expected to fill the role left void following the departures of both Craig Carley and Daniel Heffernan over the course of the 2016 campaign.
Both recruits have played professionally before in their careers and will fill the void left by departed visa players Hakeem Aloraibi, who has joined Richmond, and Frenchman Anthony Galliard.
Nick Kalafatis’ men kick-off their season with a home tie against the Springvale on February 4, with the Suns hoping to make it two wins in a row against the White Eagles, having defeated them 3-2 on the opening day of last season thanks to a last-minute Carley strike.
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Elsewhere, Ballarat City have signed Northern Territory-based goalkeeper Josh Dorron for 2017 NPL2 season.
The 21-year-old, 203cm gloveman replaces outgoing first-choice custodian Aaron Romein, who moved to top-flight side St Albans Saints, while his original replacement Alex Baird is now at Werribee City.
Dorron comes from Alice Springs-based club the Scorpions. He originally grew up in Bundaberg before moving to the Top End six years ago.
He has previously worked with Melbourne City goalkeeping coach Joey Didulica in Alice Springs, and featured in a Northern Territory select XI against A-League side Adelaide United in a friendly in 2015.
Furthermore, Dom Swinton returns to Morshead Park after departing mid-season in 2016 to go overseas. He netted three times in 12 games last campaign and returns to Danny Gnjidic’s side, who has managed to retain the majority of last year’s core Red Devils squad under the rebranded City.
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Finally, Bendigo City have strengthened their squad with the addition of Visa player Scott Dunn.
The forward comes from NSW club Wagga City Wanderers, where he scored 34 goals over the course of two years.
The Scotsman previously plied his trade for the likes of Rothes FC and Lossiemouth in his home country’s lower leagues.
Dunn arrived in Australia in 2015 and had previously stated his ambition to play in the NPL.
Able to play along the front third, the 23-year-old’s goalscoring record as Wagga City’s golden boot adds firepower and experience to Srecko Baresic-Nikic’s youthful squad.
