Sale Football-Netball Club is looking to improve on its impressive 2022 campaign, with the recent announcements of three high-quality signings.
First on the roll call is Lachie Ronchi, a former Sale junior premiership player, who returns for the 2023 season.
Ronchi last played for Sale in 2018, ending a four-year stint with the club, and now after four seasons away, feels it was the right time to return.
According to Sale in its announcement, Ronchi has now got his body into good condition and is ready to launch into the 2023 season.
Known for his long kick and mature presence, Ronchi will add depth to Sale’s defence next season, and beyond.
Ronchi will be looking forward to playing alongside his younger brother Harry at senior level.
Harry played 15 games last year, featuring five times in the best, proving to be a decent asset to the side.
Ronchi’s return will be complemented by the return of another two ex-Sale players.
Next to be announced was Bohdi Walker, who returns to Sale for the first time since 2015.
Walker is a utility who has endured great successes throughout his entire career.
Walker represented Gippsland Power and Victoria Country, before crossing to neighbouring Sale City in the North Gippsland Football-Netball League in 2016.
During his first two seasons at Sale City, Walker won back-to-back premierships, defeating Heyfield and Yarram chronologically.
In 2021, Walker won Sale City’s Senior Best and Fairest, proving he can dominate individually and be a team player simultaneously.
Walker’s return could be vital to Sale’s resurgence, after they finished 2022 regular season third.
Following its third-place finish, Sale went on to make the Grand Final in a stunning finals run, however were undone by Leongatha in the Grand Final, who were deserved winners, completing an unbeaten season.
Sale’s final signing to date, is VFL-player Cody Henness from Sandringham.
Henness recently signed with Port Melbourne in the VFL for 2023, but when not on duty for the VFL side, Henness will make the journey to the country.
Henness boasts the most experience at a high level out of the three arrivals, yet should complete the dynamics of the squad nicely.
The utility is another gun who Sale has lured back, Henness made his senior debut for Sale while playing in the under 16s in 2015.
Henness graduated to the Footscray Bulldogs in the VFL in 2018, after representing Gippsland Power and Victoria Country in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
During his time at VFL level, Henness featured in a handful of teams.
While at Footscray, Henness had moments where he’d play for Frankston in the Mornington Peninsula FL too, spending the entire 2019 season there before COVID-19 struck.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, Henness was then signed by Sandringham, where he played 15 games across two seasons.
He will bring a wealth of experience to the Sale side, having played against VFL sides that consisted of AFL talent.
While in the VFL, he displayed his versatility, playing as an inside midfielder or converting into a key position player when needed.
Following five years in the city, Henness is set to return to the place where it all began in the countryside.
