TIGERS ADD TEETH

GROVEDALE will unleash a “power-packed” forward line on the GFL in 2022 after signing VFL spearhead Josh Porter.

Porter (pictured) is returning to Werribee after a stint with Wangaratta Magpies in the Ovens and Murray league and will play with the Tigers when not playing state league.

Grovedale coach Daniel Fraser said the prospect of him lining up alongside teenage league goalkicking winner Tom Gillett and former AFL tall Cam Delaney was “very, very exciting”.

“It’s going to be a powerpacked forward line,” Fraser said. “It’s certainly something we’ve discussed as a coaching group and a recruiting group, and (it) just gives us a little bit of flexibility.

“We felt at times last year we were a bit predictable to the opposition with our line-up.

“We lined up pretty similar to what we had the previous week but obviously now we can play three talls, or we might play two and more smalls.”

Fraser hoped Porter would play enough games to qualify for GFL finals.

“They’ve got four byes from what I understand in the VFL competition,” he said.

“I’d hope (to see him for) four games but we’ve been really clear with Josh that VFL is his first priority.”

Porter had three years with Werribee between 2014 and 2016, and featured in Wangaratta’s Ovens and Murray premiership in 2017.

He returned to Werribee in 2018 and in one game kicked five goals in a best afield performance against Essendon.

Fraser, who was a development coach with Werribee while Porter was at Avalon Airport Oval, revealed Grovedale had been in contact with the goalkicker “on and off for the last three years”.

“It’s a really good get for our group and the dynamics of our group,” he said.

“He’s 27 – he’s a little bit older than the majority of our group – and adds a bit of experience.

“I think he’s going to provide a real upside to our young fellas.

“To pick up a 193cm fullforward/centre half-forward who’s played 50-odd games of VFL footy, it’s going to be a really good pick-up for our group.”

Grovedale has also signed Adrian McCarthy.

The experienced midfielder had a lengthy stint with Seymour in the Goulburn Valley league and most recently played with Yea in the AFL Outer East competition.

“He would have been miles above Division 2 or whatever it was out there (with Yea),” Fraser said.

“I reckon he would have been running around with the ball on the end of his finger, spinning it, but he went back to play with his mates. That was his original club.

“He’s as fit as a Mallee bull and he’s got a really good head on his shoulders and we reckon he can add a little bit to our footy club.”