Mahony is one of two latest recruits announced by the Tigers, who have also signed Kevin Clark.

Mahony was the BFNL’s 2014 Rising Star winner and was this year on VFL club Werribee’s list.

The 20-year-old played nine games for the Tigers in the VFL development league, while also playing two games with Maryborough, where he remained aligned.

“Billy is looking to move out of the VFL system and he has some connections with (Kyneton’s) Rhys Magin in that he played football with Rhys’ brother, Lance, up in Queensland,” Tigers coach Luke Beattie said on Wednesday.

“And he has also been coached in the juniors by Kent Weightman (father of Kyneton’s Ben Weightman), so there’s a couple of connections there to the club.

“We see Billy as an important acquisition for us in the midfield, particularly with Jarrod Witnish leaving. He’s a fantastic kid, so we’re looking forward to having him.”

Clark, 21, joins the Tigers having played this year with the Zillmere Eagles in Queensland.

“He will be a wing, half-back type of player, who is going to add a fair bit more run for us,” Beattie said.

“He has previously been in the Queensland under-16 state squad and has trained with Coburg this pre-season.

“We think both Kevin and Billy will be really good for us and fit into our strategy of getting in players who can help us to spread and create a lot better.”

The signings of Mahony and Clark follow the Tigers’ earlier recruiting announcements of Nicholas and Fintan Brazil from Benalla, Michael Clancy returning from Darley and Harry Mulqueen from Harcourt.

The Tigers finished fifth for the second season in a row this year, again bowing out to Eaglehawk in the elimination final.

They will open 2017 at home against Gisborne on Good Friday.