LATEST FROM THE NATIONAL TRADE CENTRE

DAY 38
OLD CAMBERWELL has signed former Hawk and Bomber sharpshooter Mark Williams. FITZROY has grabbed former Sydney Swan Luke Ablett and picked up former U19 Big V player Maxim Allen. 
DAY 30
The first month of trades is complete. Excluding players transferring between their junior club in another competition and the same senior club in the VAFA, over 750 requests have been entered. The percentages look like this – 50% are joining VAFA clubs from other leagues, 9% are switching between VAFA clubs and 41% are headed elsewhere in other leagues. Once again, more INs than OUTs and the greatest community football competition in the world increases in size again.
DAY 28
It’s been rumoured for a while, but now it’s official. COLLEGIANS have signed Cameron Lee from Werribee Districts. ST BEDE’S /MENTONE TIGERS signing Cameron Hansen was on the Melbourne Storm junior list in 2009 and 2010.
DAY 24
The headline writers might have been disappointed not to see much news about established stars catching on with VAFA clubs, but the juniors continue to sign up in healthy numbers. 
In some of the big February highlights, NOBSPC has signed former Geelong VFL skipper Matt Firman, while UNI BLUES have tagged former Sandy captain Peter Summers.
At this stage, it would appear that over 50 VFL players will have VAFA clubs as their fall-back position.
OLD HAILEYBURY has snared De La’s John Nicolopoulos
DAY 8
Activity has slowed since the weekend,but there is a long way to go. DE LA SALLE has lost Vic rep player Mark Collins and a lot of clubs have been busy signing juniors. If the rumours are correct, there are still to be some big signatures in the coming weeks.
DAY 3
RUPERTSWOOD raided by Aberfeldie, losing a quartet. MAZENOD grabs a quintet, including former Big V star Ben Phibbs.
ST MARY’S SALESIAN bid farewell to a few heading to the country, but the big news is that former St Kilda player JARRYD ALLEN could well be a starter in 2012.
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DAY 2
UNI BLUES sign four including All-Australian U23 rep Jonno Nash and Craig Frinsdorf, a former premiership captain in the SAAFL.
Cameron Beck is leaving OLD MELBURNIANS for OLD MENTONIANS. Cameron Beck is not leaving Old Melburnians for Old Mentonians. Both statements are true. There are two Cameron Becks.
WERRIBEE DISTRICTS lose a bunch to a nearby WRFL club. ELTHAM has a pretty good day, attracting a host of players from nearby clubs.Likewise KEW, with the Bears grabbing signatures from city and country.
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WED 1 FEB 2300: Sean Towner returning to PEGS (Old Essendon) as the Bombers busy on Day 1. OLD MELBURNIANS lose Phil Young. Liam Wilkinson returning to ST BERNARD’S, which also signed a number of youngsters. POINT COOK tops up again.

WED 1 FEB 1600: OLD SCOTCH and POINT COOK look to have inked good numbers of juniors.
WED 1 FEB 1000: ST MARY’S SALESIAN has signed the first player of the new season: Ben Pumpa, formerly of UNSW/ES in the AFL Sydney competition. The Saints have also signed a swag of juniors.
Exiting the VAFA competition are Nathan Henley and Simon Taylor, both of whom played at OLD MELBURNIANS last season.
The action has begun and 2012 squads begin to take shape. Our man in the National Trade Centre reported strong business on DAY 1.