Tom Whittlesea has played 22 senior games with Woodville West Torrens.

“I’ve had a good stint the last three-four years and I got a good opportunity to come to Wangaratta,” he said.

“It will be a bit of a lifestyle change and I just felt like I needed a change.”

In a remarkable coup at this time of the year, Whittlesea will be a like-for-like swap for outgoing centre half-forward Josh Porter.

The ex-VFL big man will start a college teaching degree in the US next month, with uncertainty over his availability for the final two months.

“He’s very competitive and he’s a competitive animal,” Woodville West Torrens football manager Luke Powell said.

“He’s a strong contested mark, he’s good as a lead-up forward as well and he can play in a number of positions.”

Whittlesea also played in defence at junior state level.

Interestingly, his father Peter was a previous president of Wangaratta with 23-year-old Tom living in the city between the ages of two and eight.

The 192-centimetre forward will move to the North East in the coming weeks.

He’s uncertain when he will play his first game, with an outside chance of tackling Yarrawonga in a home blockbuster on July 1.

Wangaratta will look to jump back into the top three with an away win against fellow finals contender Wodonga Raiders on Saturday.