EFL 2018: Montrose vice-captain Billy Schilling signs at North Ringwood

IT’S not even the Eastern Football League off-season, but North Ringwood has already announced its first recruit for 2019.

NORTH Ringwood coach Brett Moyle hopes recruit Billy Schilling can become the key forward the Saints are craving in 2019.

Schilling, who was vice-captain at Montrose this year, has signed at Quambee Reserve as North Ringwood looks to push for its first Division 1 premiership next year.

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The Demons premiership player slotted 21 goals this season but kicked 95 majors across 2014 and 2015 in the club’s first two seasons in the top flight after winning promotion from Division 2 in 2013.

Billy Schilling on the lead. Picture: Chris Eastman/AAP

Moyle said landing a key forward was one of North Ringwood’s priorities after a ninth-placed finish this year.

“It was probably the most obvious gaping hole in our footy side,” Moyle said.

“We knew we had to try find a 50-goal full-forward and Billy’s got close to kicking that a couple of times at Montrose.

“His role has been a bit different up the ground at Montrose but I think he could kick 50 goals for us next year, which is really exciting for us.”

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North Ringwood announced Schilling’s signing just nine days after the home and away season.

“Billy has had some strong friendships within our club for a long time — a couple of those guys don’t even play with us anymore — but he used to come to our functions and he’s always been a nice, affable guy,” Moyle said.

“He’s always been very committed to Montrose but I’ve called him most years, to be honest, and I think he found it was a good time for a change for him.

“We were happy to have a chat and it got pretty serious reasonably quickly and it’s been finalised pretty quickly, which is great for everyone.”

Billy Schilling played in Montrose’s 2013 premiership. Picture Lawrence Pinder

Jayden Hoegel finished as the Saints’ leading goalkicker in 2018 with 31 goals, while Matthew Sheppard booted 27 majors.

But Moyle said Schilling’s addition would add another dynamic to the Saints’ forward line.

“He’s got a really good aerobic engine so I think that will fit with how we play but his workrate, and I guess his reputation, means he’ll probably draw the first defender,” he said.

“I think it will help our ball movement that when the guys look up and see someone who is not 177cm, they’ll see a 188cm or 190cm key forward with some presence.”

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