Three returnees are among four signings unveiled by Modewarre ahead of this year’s semi-finalists commencing pre-season.
Ollie Butler, Damon Hemphill, and Elijah Satala have returned from Colac, Pyramid Hill and Penshurst, respectively, while Oscar Hocking from St Joseph’s has also arrived at Community Bank Oval.
Coach Mark Hovey says the Warriors sat down following their semi-final exit at the hands of Drysdale and identified what they needed to challenge the Bellarine’s elite in 2025.
A tall defender was on the wishlist, which Hovey is confident they have found in Hocking, who won Joeys’ reserves best-and-fairest.
“He’s a really good intercept mark, and he plays a bit taller than what he is,” Hovey said.
“He’s a really great fella; he’ll fit in really well at Modda.”
Butler last played with the Warriors in 2022 before returning to Birregurra the following season and spending this year at Colac, where he made six senior appearances.
Hemphill, whose first stint at Modewarre followed time with GFNL club St Albans, played with Loddon Valley grand finalist Pyramid Hill this year.
Both will add depth to the Warriors’ midfield, which will be without departed captain Jeremy Ollis next year.
Butler will return as a one-point player, while Hemphill will carry two points.
“We just felt we needed more depth through our mids, and we’ve picked up a couple of good ones,” Hovey said.
“But, we’ve also got some young fellas that we want to expose to playing those roles as well.”
Satala, who featured at reserve grade level with Modewarre in 2023, kicked 20 goals from 14 games as Penshurst won the Mininera and District League premiership.
Originally from South Australia, Satala played underage football at SANFL club Glenelg and captained Port Adelaide’s Aboriginal Academy.
“He’s keen to really have a crack and do a pre-season and see what he can do,” Hovey said.
“He’s 25, and he’s excited to have another real go, and we look forward to seeing what he can produce.”
“He’s got an important role in the Indigenous community based in Werribee, and he’s highly respected.”
Veteran duo Josh Finch and Ryan Williams are yet to make a call on their futures.
Hovey says four-time Les Ash Medal-winner Finch, who turned 38 earlier this week and has just come off the AFLW season as an assistant coach with Geelong, is under no pressure from the club to make a decision.
“He’s been tied up with the girls program, and that’s finished now, so now’s the time he can have a bit of a break and forget about footy,” Hovey said.
“My gut feeling is that he’s more likely to play than not, without being categoric.
“If he does happen to play, he’ll break the club record early in the year, and there’ll be no more deserving player in the history of the club to hold that record.”
Modewarre has also made an important off-field signing, with former St Joseph’s and Anglesea coach and joint 2008 Mathieson medalist Paul Carson reuniting with Hovey.
Carson was lured alongside brother Dale from Geelong West-St Peter’s to Joeys during Hovey’s tenure at Drew Oval.
Hovey then returned the favour, acting as an assistant when Carson, now Director of Sport at Geelong College, was coach of St Joseph’s.
“I think he got the bug and just wanted to be involved somewhere again,” Hovey said.
“His job at Geelong College is pretty full-on, and I think he’d like the release to get out amongst the boys at Modda.
“He’ll do our strength and conditioning and look after one of the lines.”
Modewarre commences pre-season training on Monday, November 25.
Meanwhile, Drysdale has signed the son of a former premiership star and Les Ash Medal winner.
Lachie Nelis, whose dad Simon was part of the Hawks’ drought-breaking 2009 premiership and won the Bellarine’s highest individual honour in 2004, arrives from Leopold.
After graduating from the Lions’ under-18 team, Nelis impressed at reserve grade level in 2024.
X: @krockfootball
