Banyule has some big holes to fill in 2021 after three club greats retired

Banyule has been left with some big holes to fill ahead of 2021 after premiership captain Scott Gumbleton, Luke Giles and Adam Barclay hung up the boots.

Banyule captain Scott Gumbleton and coach Pete Davey raise the NFL Division 3 premiership cup in 2017. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Banyule premiership captain Scott Gumbleton is one of three club greats to hang up the boots.

Gumbleton, Adam Barclay and Luke Giles all featured in last year’s NFL Division 2 grand final loss and leave big holes for the Bears to fill ahead of the 2021 season.

After calling time on his AFL career, Gumbleton arrived at Beverley Road in 2015 and two years later led the club to a maiden Northern Football League flag.

The star forward was named best-on-ground in the Division 3 grand final win over South Morang, claimed the club best-and-fairest and was named in the league Team of the Year.

Gumbleton played 57 games and kicked 88 goals for the club and said his body told him it was time.

Scott Gumbleton in action for Banyule. Picture: Nathan McNeill

“My body hasn’t done it that well, so I felt it was time to relax and enjoy life without being sore all the time,” he said.

“It would have been nice to finish on a high … but the year off just made my decision that much easier knowing that footy was getting too hard.

“The year off made me understand that and we had a baby boy seven months ago so he’s kept me occupied.

“I got a great opportunity to play AFL footy and I’ve made some great friends out of the game.

“It’s something you grow up wanting to do but I’m enjoying my life now, I had a great time, and there are other things in life that make me happy.”

Gumbleton, who was drafted by Essendon at No.2 in 2006 and spent a year with Fremantle, said he was looking forward to watching Banyule from the sidelines and hoped to see the club promoted to Division 1 soon.

Barclay joined Banyule from Watsonia in 2010 and went on to play 146 games and kick 311 goals.

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The tough onballer was a member of the Bears’ VAFA premiership in 2010 and NFL flag in 2017, claimed two club champion awards and once kicked eight goals for VAFA in a representative game against the Eastern Football League.

Giles was also a member of the 2010 premiership but missed the 2017 triumph.

The skilful winger joined the Bears in 2007 and played 108 games and kicked 88 goals for the club and was twice named in the NFL Division 3 Team of the Year.

He was also named in the Banyule Junior Team of the last 50 years.