Epping makes first big signing of the NFL Division 2 off-season, securing a star junior’s return
Epping has made the first big splash of the off-season luring former junior and NFL and Vic Metro representative Jhye Baddeley-Kelly back from North Heidelberg.
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Epping has pulled off the first shock signing of the off-season, securing Jhye Baddeley-Kelly for 2020.
Baddeley-Kelly has been a key member of North Heidelberg’s successive preliminary final teams in the past two seasons and a member of the all-conquering Northern Football League representative side.
The smart utility was also on Williamstown’s VFL list this season.
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A Pingers junior, Baddeley-Kelly will be a massive boost for a club that was decimated by injury and claimed the NFL Division 2 wooden spoon with just one win this season.
Epping coach Aaron Johnson was rapt to have the talented young gun back in home colours.
“It’s good he wants to come home for a bit of change, play footy with his mates and enjoy his footy,” he said.
“He’s had a couple of big years at North Heidelberg … he knows where the club’s at and he wants to come back and help out and get the club back to Division 1 as soon as possible.
“Our footy manager Stu Chambers is working really hard … Jhye is one he’s been working on for a couple of years.”
Baddeley-Kelly played all 20 games for the Bulldogs this season and played arguably his best game of the season in the preliminary final defeat to West Preston-Lakeside.
After leaving the Pingers in 2013, he spent four seasons at Lalor before moving to Shelley Reserve.
The young gun also been state representative in the past two years as part of Vic Metro’s Community Cup teams that faced Vic Country and Tasmania.
Despite Epping’s lack of on-field results this season, Johnson was confident the club was heading in the right direction and the signing coup was further proof.
“The culture is really good down there, the list staying together, being injury free and being on the bottom ground will be a big plus,” he said.
“The results from the outside weren’t the best but internally they know what the end goal is and where we’re at.”
Johnson also revealed last year’s key signings Dyllon Westra, Cal Wilson, James O’Brien, Michael Sibaie and Tom Burnside had all signed on for 2020.
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