Tara Murray
The return of seven-time premiership player Kwame McHarg is the icing on the cake for Deer Park ahead of the Western Region Football League division 1 season.
The club confirmed last week that McHarg had agreed to play for the club this season, having played with Port Melbourne last year.
Lions coach Mark McGoldrick said they were as surprised as anyone when McHarg returned to the club.
“It was a pleasant surprise,” he said.
“The rumour mill was rife that he was coming back. We are great mates and I’ve always said we have an open door policy, that you come back if you want to.
“He walked in Thursday night and he was non-committal. I left him alone and then he advised me on Monday he was coming back.”
McHarg’s record is impressive. He was part of Deer Park’s amazing seven in a row premierships, won two best-on-ground medals, one Barry Priest Medal and four club best and fairest medals.
Former coach Marc Bullen previously said, “he’ll go down as the best ever Deer Park player and arguably the best ever to play in the WRFL”.
McGoldrick said as well as what McHarg could do on field, it was a massive bonus as he is only a one-point player in the player points system.
“He will help the young fellows underneath them, he’s a leader in the group.
“The multiple premiership players already have a new lease of life and this just adds to it.”
The signing McHarg follows that of former North Melbourne and Collingwood midfielder Levi Greenwood and former AFL forward Aaron Edwards.
Jordy Pollard, Luke Goater, Will Mitchell, Dylan Featon and Josh Vilinskis are other key signings.
McGoldrick said the likes of Todd Elton and Ryley Barrack, who played limited football last year, would also be handy inclusions in the side.
McGoldrick said the side was in a much better position than they were this time last year.
He said the likes of Edwards and Greenwood had taken on real leadership roles.
“It’s a little bit of an unknown,” he said. “We’re better placed than 2021 which was after losing 13 blokes from our 2019 premiership side.
“We felt like we needed some older heads.
“Levi and Aaron are doing most of the training and a lot of the coaching. They will be coaching out on the field on Saturdays.
“It’s a big positive for us on the field.”
The Lions start their season next Saturday against Caroline Springs.
In other opening round matches, Point Cook plays Werribee Districts, Sunshine will take on Hoppers Crossing, Spotswood will take on Yarraville Seddon and Altona will take on St Albans.
