By Tara Murray
Taylors Lakes has pulled off a recruiting coup, signing forward Patrick Rose for the next two Essendon District Football League seasons.
The Lions announced on Tuesday night that they had signed the key forward as they look to add some experience to their young list.
At local level, signings don’t come much better.
Rose, who won the leading goal kicking at VFL level in 2011, also spent time on the Western Bulldogs’ AFL list as a rookie.
Since then he has played for EDFL premier division side Avondale Heights, before moving to Western Region Football League side Altona the last two years.
He kicked 54 goals this year, after kicking 81 the year before, as Altona claimed the minor premiership on both occasions.
Lions coach Charles Cuzzupi said the signing of Rose was massive for the club.
“We identified having such a young playing group, we needed to bring in some experience,” he said.
“We want to keeping building what we have.
“I’ve been dealing with Patty for the last 10 years and I was keen to get him to come to the club. Once he came down and spoke to the committee and toured the facilities, it was a no brainer.”
Cuzzupi said Rose was at the stage in his career that he wanted to help bring through the next generation of players.
He said being close mates had made the decision for him to come across a lot easier.
“As much as he wants to play finals, he wants to support a young group and help them develop,” he said.
“At this stage in his footy career, going forward he wants to impact a list and educate a list.
“I have helped him at local level and he wants to help and support me with what I want to do.”
Since the announcement, Cuzzupi said there had been a good reaction from some other possible recruits they had been talking to.
They are hoping to announce a couple more new players in the next week or so.
Just important for Taylors Lakes, they’ve re-signed majority of this year’s team.”
“The whole list bar two or three has re-signed,” he said.
“To have the whole list re-signed by September 30, by my understanding has never happened at the club in the past.”
