EFNL 2023: Bailey Lambert, Luke Nelson commit to Noble Park full-time

A gun VFL pair has committed to Noble Park full-time after finishing their respective state league stints, while the club’s two biggest stars have re-signed. But two key names have departed.

Noble Park has been buoyed by the commitment of a former VFL duo following the re-signing of its two biggest stars.

The Bulls have secured state league pair Bailey Lambert and Luke Nelson full-time for 2024 as the club looks to rebound in the Eastern league’s Premier Division next season after missing the finals this year.

The duo had been aligned with Noble during their VFL stays, with midfielder/forward Lambert featuring in the club’s 2022 premiership while on Frankston’s list, following a stop at Richmond from 2018 to ‘19. Nelson plied his trade at Coburg, with the speedster finishing runner-up for the best and fairest this year.

Noble Park senior coach Steve Hughes said Lambert and Nelson had called time on their respective state league stints, and declared their addition would lift standards on the track.

Bailey Lambert in action for Frankston. He’s the son of former Richmond and Brisbane on-baller, Craig. Picture: Matt Walker

“At some point you do reach the end of your VFL journey – it takes a lot of your time up,” Hughes said.

“You reach the end of your tether a little bit and we’ve had a large number of VFL players aligned to our club and every few years it sort of pays you back a little bit because you know you’re going to get your high-quality, professional players who are going to set good training standards when they do come back.

“Bailey and Luke will drive those standards for us in spades, I think.”

Their commitment follows the re-signing of star pair Kyle Martin and Jackson Sketcher.

Hughes said Sketcher had already begun training following his Sir Gilbert Chandler Medal and club champion awards this season, with the league’s top honour marking the first senior best and fairest of his career.

“Jackson’s already started a program and running – he’s ultra-professional … now he needs to back it up and that’s his next challenge and that’s the way he operates,” Hughes said.

“He’s going to set himself up for a big 2024, I think.”

Martin is set to return after an ACL injury sidelined the nine-time club best and fairest for the season, but Hughes said he wouldn’t be rushed back.

“We’ll see how Kyle goes – we’ll look after him … he’s doing everything in his power to be there Round 1, but if he’s not, then that’s fine too,” he said.

“We’re very excited to get him back – he’s obviously the heart and soul of our footy club.”

Meanwhile, premiership pair Jake Gains and Jack Francis have departed.

Gains has joined Outer East club Officer to play alongside his brother, while swingman Francis has returned to Southern outfit Chelsea after two seasons with the Bulls.

“‘Gainsy’, what a servant of our footy club … he played centre half-back, ruck, forward, very durable and he’s a premiership player and goes with our well-wishes,” Hughes said.

“We’ll obviously miss (Francis), but it was his decision to go back and play with some mates.

“You’re going to turn over a few each year, but that’s footy.”