Tylar Watts will continue his GFNL career at reigning premier Leopold after becoming the latest big-name departure from Geelong West.
The 24-year-old ruckman signed with the Lions this (Tuesday) afternoon, having also trained with Bellarine powerhouse Torquay before Christmas.
Watts is training with VFL premier Werribee and is understood to be close to winning a contract at Chirnside Park, where he played three games in 2019 before spending several years on Geelong’s list for one game.
His departure follows that of Mathieson Medal runner-up and reigning best-and-fairest Tanner Lovell (Portland), Emmanuel Ajang (South Adelaide), Jamieson Ballantyne (Portland), Jacson Collins (Geelong West GDFNL), Tex Mitchell (Ballarat Swans), and Frazer Robb (Koroit),
The 198cm Watts played 61 games at the Giants after arriving from Portland in the Hampden League.
“We reached out to Tylar late last year as an initial enquiry,” Lions football boss Hamish Easton told K rock Football.
“(He’s a) quality person who has clearly demonstrated his ability at GFNL and VFL level, and we were keen to reach out and see if there was an opportunity for him to join Leopold.
“He’s the type of player that will be a great fit for our club, and he has a real presence and (is) one of the better players in the GFL.
“We were really keen to have a player like Tylar join us, and he has a connection to a number of our current players through playing against him but also being from the southwest.”
Leopold also confirmed that Werribee star Jay Dahlhaus will have the Lions as his interchange club.
The St Mary’s product has played 36 VFL games since 2021, for which most of that period Sebastapol in the Ballarat League has been his home club.
The Dahlhaus name is a famous one at Leopold.
Uncle Mark was the club’s first Mathieson medalist in 1993, while cousins Ryan and Luke – the latter who went on to play AFL with the Western Bulldogs and Geelong – have also worn the green and gold.
“It’s exciting for our group to have Jay nominate us as his interchange club and having him around the group when he’s available is going to be a real asset for our players,” Easton said.
“Jay knows a number of our players and is keen to be involved and around the club.”
“We don’t expect Jay to play many games with us, but if he does it is going to be impactful for our group.
“(Captain) Marcus Thompson indicated to the club that he was interested, and we reached out, and he felt a comfort with us, and we’re happy that he has decided to put pen to paper.”
Watts and Dahlhaus are the third new signings announced by Leopold following the arrival of Lewis Gilbert from Ballarat club Wendouree before Christmas.
However, they will start their chase for the GFNL’s first premiership hat-trick in 18 years without premiership quartet Ollie Tate, Tom Gordon, Jake Pitt and James Edmonds.
Tate and Gordon have retired, although there is speculation Tate may appear with a Bellarine League club in 2025, while Pitt has headed to Albury and Edmonds is off to Port Fairy.
X: @krockfootball
