HOLBROOK has moved to bolster its forward-line by signing Lavington centre half-forward Andrew Dess.
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Dess kicked 25 goals for the Panthers this season and will be joined at the Hume league club by his brother, Brendan, and Tallangatta forward Andrew Dear.
He kicked 105 goals in a 94-match career at Lavington.
Coach Matt Sharp played with the Dess brothers at Canberra club Belconnen.
Holbrook were the most improved team in the competition this year and, with Andrew Mackinlay and Brad Carman joining Lavington, have wasted little time shoring up its list.
Sharp said the trio brought difference things to the table.
“It’s fallen into place nicely,” Sharp said.
“Andrew and Brendan wanted to have another season together and it was good to be able to accommodate them.
“I think it’s been on their radar.
“Andrew Dear kicked 30 goals for Tallangatta and that’s an area we wanted to strengthen up.
"We’re really happy to get them out to Holbrook next season.”
Andrew will travel from Canberra to play at Holbrook while Brendan is based in Melbourne.
While the long-kicking Andrew is set to play as a key forward, Brendan will add to Holbrook’s already strong midfield of Sam Harris, Josh Jones, Sharp and Jake Way.
Brendan had this season off and previously played with former Border players James Brain, Rhys Hensel and Simon Mitchelhill at Chelsea in the Peninsula Football League.
“Our defence is strong and our midfield pretty good as well so it will be good to add some height to our forward line with Andrew,” Sharp said.
“We didn’t have a lot of it this year.”
Sharp is banking on continued improvement and the emergence of under-17 players keeping Holbrook in finals contention.
The Brookers’ thirds went through the season undefeated before going down to Osborne in the grand final at Walbundrie.
“We will be relying heavily on the local talent again,” he said.
“We are pretty fortunate.
“Hopefully they can get another five per cent out of themselves.
“We have set a good launching block.”
Dess is the third high-profile key Ovens and Murray forward to land in the Hume league after Daniel Leslie joined Henty from North Albury and Adam Prior signed at Culcairn from Lavington.
Leslie is set to play up the ground with former AFL player Damian Cupido dominating out of the goal square with 100-plus majors this year.
League officials are expected to release next year’s draw within the next three weeks.
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