Country footy: Williamstown’s Tom Downie signs with GVL club Benalla

A homecoming more than a decade in the making is a step closer to being completed after a former AFL ruckman linked up with a Goulburn Valley club.

Benalla is a step closer to the homecoming it has been dreaming of for more than a decade.

The Goulburn Valley league club has announced former GWS ruckman Tom Downie has selected the Saints as his home club for the 2022 season.

Downie, 28, is expected to spend most of the year at Williamstown in the VFL where he played six games in 2021 during a Covid interrupted year.

Benalla president Lloyd Johnson said he was excited to welcome the former junior Australian basketballer back to the club.

“We’re very pleased to see him link up with the club,” he said.

“Tom is still pursuing his VFL career and we’re very supportive of that because we want to see our local lads do well.

“It would be great if we do manage to get a few games out of him.

“His experience would have a really good impact on your younger players.”

Tom Downie is aligning with Benalla. Picture: Toby Zerna

Downie, who played nine games for the Giants, took his first steps in returning to the club when he trained earlier this year.

“Having Tom back home was fantastic and our boys really benefited from having another voice on the track,” Johnson said.

“He was really open with our younger guys and gave them a great insight about playing at a higher level.”

The Saints will have co-coaches at the helm in 2020 with Mark McKenzie and Will Martiniello set to share responsibilities.

Martiniello is a 200-game senior player including time spent with Werribee in the VFL while McKenzie is a senior best and fairest winner with the Saints.

McKenzie also coached Sunraysia league outfit Imperials for two seasons.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing our development under Mark and Will,” Johnson said.

“Recruiting is proving a bit of a challenge at the moment because some people just aren’t willing to travel.

“But we’re still confident of putting together a really competitive side.”

Key figures including

Adam Walsh, Chris Welsh, Jake Pallpratt, James Davies and Jordan Wolff have recommitted to the club for next season.

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