Bowen Medal winner, EDFL Division 1 premiership star returns to Wallan
Wallan’s premiership hopes have received a significant boost with 2018 Bowen Medal winner and EDFL Division 1 premiership star Jesse Davies agreeing to return to Greenhill Reserve in 2021.
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Wallan will welcome back 2018 RDFL Bowen Medal winner and gun midfielder Jesse Davies in 2021.
Davies returns to the Magpies after spending 2019 with Craigieburn, helping the Eagles claim the EDFL Division 1 premiership, and winning the club best-and-fairest.
A two-time best-and-fairest winner at Wallan as well, Davies will significantly boost the club’s hopes of ending its 28-year senior premiership drought.
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Magpies coach Daniel Nolan has played with and coached Davies and was thrilled to have him back at Greenhill Reserve.
“I’ve known JD for a long time, played with him at Craigieburn and Pascoe Vale and coached him at Wallan,” he said.
“We stay in contact and we’ve had a few conversations about it (coming back).
“He’s well liked amongst the playing group and he still keeps in contact with the boys.
“Jesse’s a strong inner ring type player, burst through a pack, breaks the lines and hit up a forward.
“He’s strong in the core and will really add to our list for next year.”
Davies was named in Craigieburn’s best nine times in 16 games last season.
He’ll form a dynamic partnership in midfield with fellow new recruit Shaun Huy (Kyneton) and incumbents Ricky Schraven and Michael Mannix.
Wallan is looking to claim its first senior premiership since 1992.
Nolan know the team will have its work cut out for it when 2021 kicks off.
“Our playing group has re-signed to support the club through the COVID period, so that puts us in good stead to challenge again,” he said.
“We improved last year, we won our first final in 17 years and that momentum took us on an amazing run, won three on the trot and unfortunately lost to a better team in Rupertswood (in the grand final).
“Our seconds won the premiership last year and we feel like we’ve got a great mix of youth coming through and eight players who played in our senior grand final were under 22.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Diggers Rest, Riddell, Macedon and Romsey have been there for many years and now we’ve got sides like Melton, Woodend and Lancefield improving.
“It’s going to be an pretty exciting season next year.”