Former Essendon forward Kyle Reimers enjoying his footy again at EDFL club Aberfeldie

HE’S the former Bomber who has renewed his love for the game away from the AFL. We sat down with Aberfeldie’s Kyle Reimers to talk EDFL, why he turned down Carlton and flashy football boots.

Aberfeldie forward Kyle Reimers. Photo: Angie Basdekis

WHEN  Kyle Reimers was delisted from Essendon at the end of the 2012 season, few in the football world understood why he turned down an invitation to train with arch-rival Carlton.

He may have been a small forward, but Reimers was certainly not short of talent.

He played 60 games in six years at Essendon and was arguably best remembered for his eight-goal haul in a 139-point win over Gold Coast in Round 6, 2011.

So when the headline ­“Reimers rejects Carlton, and the AFL” hit the ­papers, many were surprised a 23-year-old would turn down a second chance in the big league.

The truth was Reimers had largely lost his passion for the game and that was why he instead ventured home to Western Australia to pull on the boots for Perth in the WAFL.

“It wasn’t really a thought to get back in there (the AFL),” Reimers said.

“It was more just to go back and re-find the love for the game and enjoy it again because obviously it’s well documented that my last couple of years (at Essendon) were torturous to say the least. So it was just about going back and re-finding the passion for the game.”

The plan worked.

Reimers played 19 WAFL games last year before opting to return to Melbourne where he signed on with Essendon District Football League club Aberfeldie and he is now enjoying his footy as much ever.

“I’m loving playing footy again,” Reimers said.

“It’s just a great bunch of blokes and it’s making life a lot easier.”

The choice of club in ­Melbourne was made easier by the fact Reimers already knew plenty of people at ­Clifton Park.

He had played with senior coach Mal Michael, Abers assistant Damien Peverill and forwards Courtney Johns and Luke Davis in his time with the Bombers.

“Obviously already having played with a few of the boys before made it a bit easier,” Reimers said. “But the club’s been really good and the boys, I can’t fault them.”

Reimers has proven to be a handy forward for ­Aberfeldie this season.

The Abers hope the now 25-year-old can help take them to ultimate success after they fell just short in last year’s grand final against Greenvale.

And, like the rest of the playing group, Reimers ­believes his side is capable of achieving that goal.

“We went through a rough patch but the boys are putting the work in at training and it’s showing,” he said.

“So it’s all positive and ­upwards from here.”

Kyle Reimers celebrates a goal during his playing days with Essendon. Photo: Michael Dodge.

KNUCKLING DOWN...

IT is the question Kyle Reimers has been asked more than any this year — where are the bright footy boots?

Famous through his days with Essendon for his statement-making coloured boots, Reimers has instead been wearing a plain white pair in the Essendon District Football League this season.

“I’ve not so much toned it down, I’m just trying to knuckle down on my footy again,” Reimers said.

“Mal (Michael) was joking around when I first sat down with him. He said ‘we’ll try and get you a pair (of flashy boots)’, but I said ‘man, just give up on it’. Although, Neymar’s boots in the World Cup were quite interesting. The gold ones appeal to me a little bit but that’s about it.”