REIGNING premier Albury has looked to stabilise its back line by signing a key defender from the amateurs in Melbourne.
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Tall defender Simon Thomas has relocated to the Border from premier VAFA outfit, the Uni Blacks.
Thomas has signed a two-year deal at the Tigers, who have also picked up Sam Schulz from Greater Western Sydney and Alex Jones from the Murray Magpies.
Schulz is unlikely to play at all in 2016 as he recovers from a knee reconstruction.
Tigers co-coach Shaun Daly said Thomas would help offset the loss of Will Smith, while there’s question marks on the futures of backmen Michael Thompson, Justin Carey and Kieran Ellis.
“We’ve been looking at defenders,” Daly said.
“He will replace what we’ve lost, or potentially lost.
“He’ll (Thomas) lock down an opponent for us, (but) we haven’t really seen him play.”
Thomas featured in the Uni Blacks’ best in five of his nine games this season, with the club missing the finals after finishing fifth of 10 teams.
Daly said the connection with Thomas came through former Tiger, Angus Locke.
“One of our ex players played with him at Uni Blacks, so that was our connection,” Daly said.
“He’s moved to town and he’s come on board for two years.”
Jones has also signed for two years.
The midfielder has spent the past two seasons with the Magpies, after crossing from Lavington.
“He can play anywhere,” Daly said.
“He’s got a fair bit of pace and he’s very versatile.
“He’s only young and wanted to play the best footy he can.
“If he gets fit and committed, he could play senior footy for sure.”
While clubs such as Corowa-Rutherglen have struggled to recruit, Albury has been able to add to its list.
Daly said he wasn’t interested in talk of Albury’s dominance – the Tigers have won five premierships from the past seven straight grand finals – and was just focused on preparing the Tigers for another season.
“We can only control what happens inside our four walls,” Daly said.
“We can’t control what people say.
“We just try to be the best team we can.”
Albury has lost just six games in the past three years and is again the team to beat.
But Yarrawonga has also recruited strongly and looks set to seriously challenge the Tigers.
