Ex-VFL players Nick Riddle, Billy Murphy join Old Ivanhoe

Old Ivanhoe’s new recruits have already brought “voice and maturity” to pre-season while a retired club legend has switched his boots for the coaching board.

After narrowly falling short of making finals on percentage last season, VAFA Premier C club Old Ivanhoe Grammarians have boosted its list with the recruit of two former VFL players.

Ex-Collingwood VFL captain Nick Riddle has signed with the club after playing for Greensborough in the Northern Football League for the past seven years.

The club have also picked up Billy Murphy who has played in the VFL with Preston and Box Hill as well as Aspley in the WAFL.

Collingwood VFL’s Nick Riddle marks against Casey Scorpions. Picture: Susan Windmiller

Both players are former Ivanhoe Grammar students and have stayed in close contact over the years supported by the fact Riddle’s partner was the sister of Murphy.

Old Ivanhoe coach Jarrod Gieschen said the pair were excited about returning to their old school to finish their careers together.

“Both of them being at the end of their footy careers wanted to play footy together and they wanted to win a premiership together ultimately,” Gieschen said.

“Because the two of them are so close I think they always wanted to play together and with our connection being with Ivanhoe Grammar, we worked something out.

“The two of them coming together has been really good for us in terms of having two quality players but more importantly, two quality people.”

Riddle is set to feature at centre half back with the chance of going forward occasionally while Murphy will play as a midfielder/forward.

Box Hill Hawks player Billy Murphy with Dr Jiun Ying Lai.

Gieschen, who won a B grade premiership with the club in 2005, said the pair had already had an impact at the club.

“Their voice and maturity on the training track, they are imparting advice with what they are noticing,” he said.

“They both probably made a conscience decision to sit back and take a look at how things were going before they got into it.

“But just naturally they are leaders and mentors for some of our younger players.

“We have also picked their brains, they have both introduced a training drill or two as well which has been good.”

It comes as the club have a captain vacancy this pre-season following the retirement of Michael Mitris who has joined the coaching panel.

Old Ivanhoe footballers (Left - right) Jordan Stanton, Sam Keogh and Michael Mitris supporting the Towards Zero campaign in 2019. Picture: Hamish Blair

The club have also lost former VFL player Daniel Stanford as well as vice-captain Jordan Stanton (retired) from the playing field.

Defender Reed Jepson from Northcote Park in the Northern Football League has also joined the club.

Gieschen, who has been coach since 2018 after playing 180 matches for the club, complemented Mitris for his contribution.

“Michael has been a club legend,” he said.

“He started at the club in 2010, he is our equal longest serving captain at the club and he played in a premiership as well.

“He gave his heart and soul to the footy club for over a decade and individually won a lot of awards as well so he will definitely be missed that’s for sure.

“The good thing is, he is helping out as an assistant coach so he will be around which will be great.”

Gieschen was confident that the new recruits would fill a void left behind by the departing players while he was excited to see the growth of his squad, particularly a core group of players who were entering their mid-20s.