EFNL 2022: Mooroolbark midfielder Jayden Weichard signs at Kilsyth

The Kilsyth coach couldn’t speak higher of his latest signing – one of the Eastern league’s most exciting young talents. Latest here.

He’s arguably Kilsyth’s biggest signing of the off-season yet.

The Cougars have secured one of the Eastern league’s most exciting emerging names with Mooroolbark midfielder Jayden Weichard putting pen to paper at the Division 4 club.

It follows the recent additions of Lilydale pair Ryan McNay and Brandon Droessler, alongside Bayswater ruckman Jaycob Devir.

Former Eastern Ranges talent Weichard stepped into regular senior football with Mooroolbark as a 17-year-old in 2019, before eight senior games in 2021 and 16 this year including the Mustangs’ Division 1 grand final.

Jayden Weichard has been touted as one of the Eastern league’s most exciting young players. Picture: Davis Harrigan

The 21-year-old has been touted as a fierce competitor by former coach Bret Lavars, who has also lauded the young gun’s leadership.

He had received an invitation to train with VFL outfit Frankston this year, and Premier Division clubs had enquired about his services in recent years.

Kilsyth senior coach Simon Caldwell said Weichard, who trained with the Cougars in 2020, would significantly bolster the club’s midfield.

He reunites with school mates at Pinks Reserve.

“He’s a tough little bugger, can win it on the inside and has really good speed on the outside – he’s the perfect mix,” Caldwell said.

“In one of the finals he kicked four goals, so he can push forward … when he trained with us in 2020, he had clubs from Premier (Division) ringing him.

“The other big plus for is he was in their (Mooroolbark’s) leadership group, so that says a bit about a 21-year-old. Mooroolbark are a bloody good team, and to be in their five or six leaders, they obviously thought a fair bit of him.

“From a coaching point of view, I can’t believe we’ve got this bloke.”

Weichard gets a handball off in the Division 1 grand final. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Caldwell said the swag of recruits coupled with the existing players would create a healthy rivalry for spots, particularly in the midfield.

The club played finals for the first time since 2015 this season but suffered a first-week exit.

“There’s a bit of determination there … and picking up a couple of really good ones it creates a bit of in-team rivalry as well, a bit of competitiveness there and we’ve still got a few young blokes from last year playing through there,” Caldwell said.

“It becomes a good, competitive environment.”