Navarre’s Cody Driscoll will make the move from the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League into the Wimmera Football League to bolster Stawell’s goal-kicking ranks. 

The Warriors have also signed key-position player Luke Hendy. 

Hendy has had previous stints with the Warriors and returns after most recently playing in the Geelong region. 

New senior Warriors coach Colin Macaffer said both players will add much needed size to the group.

“Both guys have the potential to play any position,” he said.

“They are both in their early 20’s so they have plenty of time to develop and continue to improve.”

Macaffer said he believes both players will be able to make the adjustment to the standard of the Wimmera league. 

“They will be stepping up into a bigger league now,” he said.

“It is a challenge for them to show us they can make it but I am sure they are both capable.”

The recruitment of Driscoll is a massive coup for the Warriors, who had a career best season in 2017.

He booted 84 goals and was instrumental in taking Navarre to a seventh consecutive MCDFL grand final and also played a big role in the Grasshoppers’  four consecutive premierships between 2013 and 2016. 

Driscoll said he felt “it was the right time” to try something new.  

“I wanted to take the opportunity to take my career in a different direction,” he said.

“I have been at Navarre for 12 years and had a lot of success. It will be tough to leave but I am looking forward to playing with a different group of mates and taking on a different challenge.”

The Warriors will lose veterans Dan Matthews and Julian Carr who have retired with only one other player showing an interest of leaving the club at this stage. 

Stawell will begin training for the 2018 season on Monday, November 13 an will run between nine and 10 sessions before Christmas. 

Players, supporters and sponsors will be able to meet with the new coaches at the first training session in two weeks time.