EFL: Jarrod Bayliss joins Mooroolbark for Division 1 2020 season
Jarrod Bayliss will return to the Eastern league in 2020 after finishing the second half of this season at Wandin.
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Park Orchards flag-winning coach Jarrod Bayliss will play against his premiership teammates in 2020 after putting pen to paper at EFL Division 1 rival Mooroolbark.
Bayliss signed at Heights Reserve on Monday night, joining good mates Matt Polkinghorne and Troy Wright at the Mustangs.
And Kane Noonan, who claimed the club’s best and fairest in 2018, could also return full-time from Coburg.
Bayliss played his junior football at Mooroolbark and returns as a one-point player.
It will be his fourth club in less than two years.
Bayliss spent the second half of 2019 at Wandin, where he played in the 2015 AFL Outer East premiership and was a long-serving coach.
He spent two years as playing mentor at Park Orchards, taking the club to its first senior flag in 2017.
Bayliss transferred to Vermont at the end of the 2018 season and made four senior appearances at the Premier Division club before crossing to Wandin midway through the year.
Mooroolbark coach Bret Lavars said Bayliss wanted to finish his career where he got his start.
He said the club had worked on Bayliss’ signature for the past month.
“It all happened pretty quick,” Lavars said.
“It was a pretty seamless meet and greet and everything seemed to align with what we wanted and what Jarrod wanted.”
Lavars said Bayliss would offer leadership and provide versatility on the ground.
“One of the things we’re really hoping he can bring to us is influencing the boys’ training standards and what is expected off-field,” he said.
“On-field, he has the ability to win his own football, which is something we craved a little bit this year.
“We felt like we didn’t have enough players who could do that but we think he gives us flexibility to either go through the middle or go off halfback.”
Noonan played 13 VFL games this year and would be a valuable addition if he finished his state league stint.
Jonathon Egan and Ben Higgins have also returned to Mooroolbark after a season at Chirnside Park.
Jesse Bates (Westmeadows) and Adam Johnson (Mt Evelyn) are other inclusions of note.
Aaron Beddoes and Jake Findlay could also play important roles in the senior side in 2020.
Beddoes was recovering from a shoulder reconstruction this year and Findlay played reserves football but has senior experience.
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Lavars reported there had been no departures of significance.
“We think last year we struggled a little bit for depth and putting pressure on the boys,” he said.
“I think it can only be beneficial for the club to have a healthy list and also put pressure on other players to earn their spot to play senior footy.
“We’re very happy with what we’ve managed to secure at this stage.”
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