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PERENNIAL VFL finalist Williamstown has bolstered its stocks after securing Willie Wheeler and Leigh Masters from Coburg.
Willie Wheeler is off to Williamstown
The young guns, both aged 20, filled the top two places in the Tigers’ best and fairest this season.
Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon said the club aimed to strengthen its list after last month’s announcement that it would cut ties with AFL-affiliate Western Bulldogs at the end of next season.
No more than 11 Bulldogs-listed players will feature in Williamstown’s senior line-up next season, meaning more opportunities will be created for local players.
Wheeler will slot into the Seagulls’ midfield, while Masters will provide much-needed run off the half-back flank.
Wheeler and Masters are also members of the inaugural VFL Academy, which helps prepare players for a potential career at the next level.
"The pleasing thing for us, when we first met with the boys, was hearing that they were looking forward to taking their game to the next level," Dixon said.
"It’s a big tick for our development program and our coaching staff that they see Williamstown as the place to really expand their game and take them to where they want to take their footy."
Dixon said Wheeler should be able to get more "outside" ball by playing alongside midfield staples Ben Jolley, Brett Goodes and Ed Carr.
"He was the first midfielder that we tried to stop when we played Coburg this year," Dixon said.
"We seem him as being a really good midfielder who can play both inside and then get on the outside as well and play a bit of half-forward/wing."
The Seagulls, Dixon said, have lacked a rebounding defender since the departures of Ben Davies, Matthew Grossman and Dane Rampe. Enter Masters.
"We look at a lot of our defenders, and they’re guys who are excellent defenders, but one of things that we’re missing is that bit of run," Dixon said.
Willie Wheeler is off to Williamstown
The young guns, both aged 20, filled the top two places in the Tigers’ best and fairest this season.
Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon said the club aimed to strengthen its list after last month’s announcement that it would cut ties with AFL-affiliate Western Bulldogs at the end of next season.
No more than 11 Bulldogs-listed players will feature in Williamstown’s senior line-up next season, meaning more opportunities will be created for local players.
Wheeler will slot into the Seagulls’ midfield, while Masters will provide much-needed run off the half-back flank.
Wheeler and Masters are also members of the inaugural VFL Academy, which helps prepare players for a potential career at the next level.
"The pleasing thing for us, when we first met with the boys, was hearing that they were looking forward to taking their game to the next level," Dixon said.
"It’s a big tick for our development program and our coaching staff that they see Williamstown as the place to really expand their game and take them to where they want to take their footy."
Dixon said Wheeler should be able to get more "outside" ball by playing alongside midfield staples Ben Jolley, Brett Goodes and Ed Carr.
"He was the first midfielder that we tried to stop when we played Coburg this year," Dixon said.
"We seem him as being a really good midfielder who can play both inside and then get on the outside as well and play a bit of half-forward/wing."
The Seagulls, Dixon said, have lacked a rebounding defender since the departures of Ben Davies, Matthew Grossman and Dane Rampe. Enter Masters.
"We look at a lot of our defenders, and they’re guys who are excellent defenders, but one of things that we’re missing is that bit of run," Dixon said.
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