The Hepworths and Navarre duo Josh Fowkes and Josh Driscoll were recently signed by Lakers.

First-year coach Dale Power said all four were looking to challenge themselves at the next level.

He said it was a big call for players to leave clubs where they had spent all their junior and senior football careers. “There’s an opportunity there and they’re keen to take it.”

The Hepworths have been prominent contributors for the Wickers, with each having been in CHFL representative squads.

Power said Caleb, the younger of the brothers at 26, would provide plenty of versatility being able to play as a tall, or inside or outside midfielder.

He said Simon was an outside midfielder who would add depth to the list.

Meanwhile, Hepburn premiership star Jacob Brown has chosen to pursue the next phase of his football development at Ballarat league club East Point.

Brown was best-onground in Hepburn’s Central Highlands Football League grand final win this year, kicking four goals to cap off his second full season at senior level.

A leading goalkicker in the under-18s in 2015, he tallied 41 this year.

And, Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League president Stephen Broad says Clunes will be welcomed into its league in 2019, if the Magpies’ appeal fails.

Following an extensive look into football around the region, AFL Goldfields handed down a recommendation that will see Clunes transferred out of the Central Highlands competition and into the MCDFNL, one of a number of recommendations.

The decision came as a surprise to both parties, Clunes president Brendan Sheehan voicing his surprise, as Clunes appeals the recommendation.

Broad admits it is not an ideal circumstance to have a club potentially entering a league it does not want to be a part of, but he said the Magpies would be welcomed into the league – if that ends up being the case.

Bringing Clunes into the competition would make the MCDFNL a 15-team senior competition, meaning alterations to the fixture would have to be explored.

Condensing the split round into one and playing on the Queen’s Birthday weekend being possible avenues to accommodate a bye.