Enigmatic forward Trent Castles had departed Corowa-Rutherglen without playing a match.
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Castles, who was one of the biggest signings of the AFL Riverina Championship this season has opted to return to Mangoplah Sportsground for a second season next year.
Castles will experience the Riverina League for the first time after deciding against a return to Corowa-Rutherglen in favour of the Goannas.
Castles has kicked 517 goals over the past five full seasons and will provide MCUE with a genuine match-winning full-forward for the first time in years.
MCUE coach Jeremy Rowe did not downplay the significance of Castle's signing.
"We're very excited to have Trent commit to us for 2021," Rowe said.
"There are certain guys that are matchwinners and you can build your sides around and we think Trent's probably in that category.
"His record speaks for itself and we were lucky enough to see what he is capable of first hand this year.
"If you just take a minute and pause and consider the fact he basically joined us mid a six-week season off the back of very little preparation and ended up only really playing four games for us. If you look at having him for four games verse having him for a full season and him being now familiar and comfortable with the club and the group I think there is great reason for the excitement that we feel to get Trent on board."
The Goannas are looking to end the longest premiership drought in AFL Riverina and Rowe believes Castles will help in a number of ways.
"As far as our side goes, we've got plenty of good players, we've got great depth, great role players but genuine matchwinners is something that we have lacked a little bit, and a spearhead closer to goal," he said.
"I think the great thing about Trent is you can use him in a whole heap of different areas as well. You can use him behind the footy, you can send him through the middle to stir things up for a five minute period, we're not bringing in a guy who is shackled in the forward 50, we're bringing in a guy who is someone we generally play close to goal because that's where we think he's best but we also enjoy the fact we get genuine flexibility from him as well."
Rowe believes the signing of Castles is another dividend of pushing ahead and playing this year.
"There's no doubt. Conversations within the club since we got Trent on board and even the other leads that the season we have played has created, it's definitely reward for the club putting its hand up," he said.
"The second grade premiership and the A grade (netball) premiership were further reward, which was terrific as well. As time goes on, we couldn't be happier that we did put our hand up and that we played. It's something we can hang our hat on just for the season alone, for the season 2020, but we also think it's something that is possibly setting us up for the next two to three years as well."
MCUE have also added CSU midfielder Max Hanrahan, who joins Brayden Ambler in crossing from the Bushpigs.
"We are really excited to get Max on board. We feel that we've got a guy who we feel is going to improve but we also certainly have got an awareness of his toughness. He brings us a big body and a really hard edge."
