Sport
10 April, 2026
Emus reload for premiership defence with midfield boost
After breaking a long premiership drought in 2025, Skipton enters the 2026 Central Highlands Football League season as the hunted.
Mitch Walsh returns as coach, determined to lead his side through the challenges of defending a title. While the club has farewelled several key names, a fresh wave of talent has reinforced the belief that the Emus will again be among the teams to beat.
Jesse Palmer, Thomas Cullinan, Patrick Graham and Joshua Sargent have all departed, leaving significant gaps in the premiership lineup.
However, the Emus have bolstered their midfield stocks with the addition of Matt Johnston and Will Liston, alongside the return of Declan Phillips following a season with Narrogin in Western Australia.
Johnston headlines the recruits after crossing from East Point in the Ballarat Football Netball League. A former captain from 2019 to 2025, he brings an impressive resume that includes three best-and-fairest awards, a grand final best-on-ground medal and the 2024 league best and fairest.
“I played with him previously, and he is a close friend,” Walsh said.
“He is a strong inside midfielder and an unselfish, genuine leader.
“With our midfielders all in their early 20s, his leadership qualities will be massive. He is a future coach and has one of the best tactical football brains I’ve ever played with.”
Liston also arrives with strong credentials, having won a best and fairest with the Ballarat Swans and earned selection in the team of the year. At just 23, Walsh believes he is ready to take the next step.
“He has a good mix of inside and outside game,” Walsh said.
“He’s really sharp around the ball.
“Adding him to our midfield group with Declan Phillips and best-and-fairest winner Jake Maddock has been seamless, and they already look like they’ve played together for years.”
Walsh has identified Josh Webster and Liam Phillips as players to watch this season.
“We can’t replace someone like Jesse Palmer, but Josh Webster returns from a knee injury and is ready to go. He’ll step into the centre-half-forward role,” he said.
“Liam played mainly as a forward last year, but we’ll push him further up the ground. His pace and ball use will help set up our forwards.”
Despite the premiership success, Walsh said there is no sense of complacency within the group.
“We may have lost some great players, but we’ve also brought some in, which is healthy for the group,” he said.
“Everyone is hungry to achieve success again.
“This is a clean slate. 16 other teams are aiming to win the premiership, so it would be degrading and arrogant to think we can just roll in and finish in the top four again.
“Every team has improved, which is great for the league, and we know we’ll have to work hard for every win.”
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