Newcomb has landed arguably its highest profile recruit post-Covid with the arrival of Dion Johnstone from St Mary’s.
The former Melbourne-listed 26-year-old has spent the past two seasons with the Saints after arriving from hometown Warrnambool.
Power coach Tony Mirabella says a link to club president Matt Farrow helped lure Johnston to Grinter Reserve.
“And I had an eye on Dion this season,” Mirabella said.
“We saw he had a pretty solid season last year, and I got to watch him a couple of times in 2023, and he piqued my interest.
“We do have a long list (of players) we look to target, so it was a bit of a surprise how quickly things turned around.
“It’s worked out well.”
Mirabella admits Johnstone is the type of recruit Newcomb has been chasing.
“First and foremost, we’ve had to retain our list the last couple of years, which we’ve pretty much managed to do,” he said. “I think we’re about 95 per cent both years in terms of list retention.
“Then, each year, we’ve got to keep adding quality on.
“Last year, we were able to add (Jarrod) Stafford), (Josh) Saltalamacchia, (Finn) Anscombe, and Josh Taylor, and three of those finished in the top 5-6 of our best-and-fairest.
“Adding someone like Dion, who will no doubt be in our best couple of players, that’s what we’ve got to keep doing.
“It doesn’t end now. We’ve got to keep putting more talent on top of the base list we’ve got and that we’ve retained.”
Johnstone kicked 37 goals from 32 games, playing predominantly as a small forward at St Mary’s.
However, Mirabella is planning more midfield time for Johnstone in 2025.
“I think in the Bellarine footy league, with the way he can use the footy, and his pace and pressure on the ball, and the way he competes for it, we’d be still not to consider him for midfield time,” Mirabella said.
“We know what we’re going to get as a forward.
“And the great teams in the comp, they have those guys who can swing forward and hit the scoreboard but also play big minutes in the midfield.
“You look at the goals Torquay gets out of Matty Boag. You look at the goals Drysdale gets out of Ben Fennell.
“We’ve got to have those guys who have the ability to play in the midfield and also play up forward and hit the scoreboard.
“It’s definitely an area we’ve been looking to fill and one we think Dion can do really well.”
Newcomb has also unveiled St Mary’s under-18 vice-captain Judd Smith as a recruit.
Smith, a cousin of Power big man Jarrod Stafford, has senior football under his belt at Stawell in the Wimmera League.
Johnstone is the fifth confirmed departure from Anthony Costa Oval.
He joins Damian McMahon (Barwon Heads), Kade Chalcraft (Shepparton United), Sam Dobson (Koroit) and Nick Minchin (Murrumbeena) as those to have left St Mary’s.
X: @krockfootball
