Collingwood VFL have signed a star forward from Western Australia who kicked more than 100 goals in local footy last year.
Bridgetown spearhead Patrick Farrant Jr recently put pen to paper for the Magpies after impressing at the club throughout the pre-season and in a recent VFL trial match against Richmond.
Farrant – an athletic medium sized forward – booted a whopping 107 goals from 16 appearances in WA's Lower South West Football League last season, including a massive bag of 14 against Southerners in Round 17.
The 24-year-old kicked three goals in a practice match against the Tigers' VFL a fortnight ago, showing that the talented forward may have little trouble adjusting to step up in standard.
Farrant had originally signed with Northern Football League outfit Fitzroy Stars before receiving an opportunity via his connection with Collingwood development coach and former Melbourne Demons player, Neville Jetta.
He has had brief State League experience having featured in a handful of West Australian Football League reserves games for Swan Districts over the past four seasons.
Farrant featured in just the solitary WAFL reserves game for the Magpies last season, where he gathered nine disposals and kicked a goal against East Perth.
His father, Paddy Farrant Sr, was an accomplished footballer in his own right and played in a premiership with the Fitzroy Stars during the 1990s.
Collingwood finished the 2023 VFL season in eighth position with a win-loss record of 11 and seven.
In other VFL news, former North Melbourne player Phoenix Spicer has joined Footscray for the 2024 season.
Spicer made 12 appearances at AFL level across his three seasons on the Kangaroos list, including six games in 2023.
The 22-year-old was impressive in the Bulldogs' trial match against North Melbourne last weekend looking lively in attack.
The small forward spent the summer playing in the Northern Territory Football League with the Darwin Buffaloes, featuring in five games and averaging 14 disposals.
