LIONS BUILD LIST
Gordon among signings
LEOPOLD has won the race for former VFL half-back flanker Thomas Gordon.
The versatile 25-year-old is one of two fresh faces on a changing list at Memorial Park under new coach Guy Morphet.
The Lions have also signed tall forward Jack Beaton, from Stawell, the two inclusions set to help cover the voids of Simon Close (Harrow-Balmoral), Ben Carmichael (Queenscliff), Greg Hardy (retired), Jeremy Larcombe (retired) and Alex Moloney.
Moloney has decided to return home to Terang to play with his brother in a move Morphet said he would not stand in the way of.
“He’s going back for family reasons and we get that as a club,” Morphet told the Advertiser. “At the end of the day it’s footy. I’ll certainly leave the door open to both of those boys and really hope, especially Alex, that he comes back one day.”
But Morphet has welcomed the two new signings, in particular Gordon, who is set to bring a wealth of experience despite having plenty of football left in him.
The 178cm half-back flanker, midfielder has spent the past seven seasons at Port Melbourne, where he played eight VFL games and 10 VFL reserves games this season.
“We sat down and had a chat to him. He’s just moved down here and his girlfriend has got a job in Geelong,” Morphet said.
“He was originally from Portland, but was really keen to still be playing the best footy he can.
“Having Tom Gordon, seven years on a VFL list, he can play. He’s got experience, but he’s young enough. Tom will fill a really good role in our leadership and we’re actively chasing a couple of very experienced players.”
Beaton will also give Leopold a fresh look inside forward-50.
“He’s six-foot-two, six-footthree, a big forward player, so he’ll be good,” Morphet said.
“He looks very athletic to me; I’d like to think he’ll try and cover some of what Simon Close has left by leaving.”
Morphet hoped to have more signings in coming weeks.