Sport
26 October, 2025
Macorna pounces on pair of Blues
NEW MACORNA coach Fergus Payne has created waves with his first player signings from former club.
Inglewood’s star forward Seb Erharter had been announced as having recommitted to the Woodies but will now play with the Tigers, who will join the Loddon Valley league next season from the disbanded Golden Rivers competition.
The signing of Erharter and Inglewood defender Josh Whittle could mean instant rivalry between Macorna and Inglewood.
Erharter was named in the Loddon Valley Team of the Year after an impressive season up front for Inglewood.
Ingle last month said: “In more fantastic news, the human highlight reel, Sebba, is back on board for ‘26. A skilful, crafty forward … Seb is a big part of our plans next year. Welcome back, Seb.”
Macorna, in turn, trumpeted his arrival on online this week, saying: “Seb is on board with the Tigs for 2026!
“He is an exciting forward that gets the team up and about. Seb’s ability to play multiple positions in the forward line while also being able to roll through the middle will be great for the team.”
Inglewood president Darrell Billett said Erharter last month had verbally committed to playing with the Woodies next season but had not signed a contract.
“Fergus has obviously chased him up and he’s signed with them – it’s one of those things,” he said.
“Most clubs will find that sort of stuff will bob up. You get a better offer.”
Whittle’s most notable appearance this season was in the elimination final against Bears Lagoon Serpentine, when he held Bears spearhead Josh Mellington to seven goals in an aggressive match-long contest, stranding the enigmatic forward on 99 goals for the year.
Payne last month declined a contract extension with Inglewood – he described it as “a shallow offer” – after a year of disputation with the club committee, and soon after that he was appointed by the Tigers in a shock move.
He led the Woodies to their best season in more than 20 years, reaching the preliminary final before losing to eventual premiers Marong.
In other player transfer updates, Pyramid Hill’s athletic ruck-forward Kai Daniels has signed with Airport West in the Essendon District Football League.
Daniels, a talented basketballer and brother of NBA star Dyson, returned to football last season to reunite with his former junior coach Nathan Fitzpatrick, who relinquished his position after the Bulldogs were eliminated from the finals.
Daniels won Pyramid Hill’s best-and-fairest award and finished third in the league’s vote.
And in related news, AFL Central Victoria is introducing a standard contract for all regional clubs to use, rather than drawing up their own agreements as has been the case.
Among the aims is to ensure consistency in the wording of player contracts.
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