It has been a case of close but no cigar for Melton in the Ballarat Football League off-season.
The Bloods went into the break happy with their young and middle tier players but with the goal of recruiting a big fish from the AFL for the 2016 season.
Melton head coach Brad Murphy has been working the phones and organising meetings for the past few months but the Bloods haven’t been able to land that elusive signature yet.
“We have spoken to probably 50 people and I think we have met 20,” Murphy said.
“We have been in the final two clubs for the potential recruit but they have signed somewhere else.
“It has just been a nightmare. We can’t compete financially with some of the offers that other clubs are giving these players. We just can’t afford what the Essendon District or Western Region clubs are spending.”
It hasn’t been all bad news for the Bloods, who have been able to sign former VFL player Jack Walker.
Walker has spent the past four years at Williamstown and is a development league premiership player at the Seagulls.
“Jack is a hard-running midfielder who I rate very highly,” Murphy said.
Next season will be Murphy’s third in charge at the Bloods.
After joining the club as a playing coach, the 31-year-old may be forced to spend 2016 on the sidelines because of constant injuries.
Murphy said he hadn’t made a final decision on his playing future yet.
“I haven’t run for 16 weeks,” he said. “I am struggling a little bit.
“I’ve tried to give myself a good break until Christmas … if my body isn’t up to it then my body isn’t up to it.
“At this stage, I want to play and play as a permanent forward. It will be 50-50 at best for me going into next year.”
