Royals sign energetic fullback Jake Talevski

Essendon Royals is delighted to welcome defender Jake Talevski to the club ahead of the 2026 VPL2 campaign. 

Primarily a right or left full back, the 24-year-old arrives at Cross Keys via Geelong Soccer Club.

“I wanted to join a winning club close to home. And for me, Essendon roles is a no-brainer,” says Talevski.

“You can see it’s a great family club first and foremost. It’s obviously a great atmosphere and I’m looking forward to contributing to that this year.

“The culture [stands out] straight away. Everyone’s been a blast to work with so far and it’s sure to be a fantastic year for us this year.”

Talevski was an ever-present for Geelong last season, making 23 league appearances.

“I bring a lot of speed to the game, I bring a lot of forward drive,” he says.

“I have a bit of experience now at senior level, and a bit of defensive stability to go with that as well.”

Talevski joins Josh Markovski, Michael Romas, Anthony Trajkoski, Zac Kocankovski, Lucas Alessi, and Ben Bowler among the new arrivals in Michael Ferrante’s squad.