JD Hayes signs with Violet Town for next season

A world leading horse trainer is looking to help a struggling country footy club reach finals for the first time in years. Here is what we know.

JD Hayes will play for Violet Town next year. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Violet Town knows it’s coming from a long way back but it hopes the signing of JD Hayes and others can bring the club to ‘brighter’ days.

The world-class horse trainer will pull on the boots for the Towners in 2025 after transferring from his home club Euroa in the Goulburn Valley league where he has played for the past three seasons.

He is also a former Euroa coach.

World class trainer JD Hayes is playing for Violet Town. Picture: Violet Town Football Netball Club.

Recently, JD Hayes has played with his twin brother Will - a former AFL player for the Western Bulldogs and Carlton.

“He’s mates with a couple of other recruits and with the new coach,” Violet Town president Matt Holmes said.

“Bringing in an experienced player like JD will be invaluable to the young players with what he can teach.”

It’s been a tough two years for the Towners.

After making the finals in 2022 the team has fallen to the bottom the previous two, winning just four games.

“We had 30 odd players travel from Melbourne in 2022,” Holmes said.

“We either cleared out or didn’t have 41 players in 2023.

“It was the perfect storm, we lost a heap in one year.”

The focus has been on juniors since with Violet Town bringing back an under-18 side.

Last year the team won the premiership in its first year back before making the grand final this year.

Now, 10 of those players are ready to step up.

“Our focus the last two years has been on having good juniors,” Holmes said.

“We saw that as our future.

“There’s a huge step in direction with where we are going.”

Holmes said the focus was now on recruiting to complement the juniors.

The club has appointed former Violet Town player Brad Gleeson as coach.

Brad Gleeson is the new coach at Violet Town. Picture: Violet Town Football Netball Club.

He has already helped bring back fellow players Pat Horsburgh and Robbie Wilson.

And more are on the way.

“There’s another 10 recruits to announce shortly,” Holmes said.

“If it wasn’t for the points system there could be 15 players playing in round one next year.”

One of those is Sean Horsburgh who will join Pat.

Another is Ash Hobbs who comes from Euroa but also used to play for the Towners.

Holmes said the goal was to play finals but, after their finish to last year, it won’t happen overnight.

“In our last five games our average losing margin was 200 points,” he said.

“We know we are coming from a long way back but the aim will be to play finals.”