Lower Plenty premiership hopes boosted by return to premiership pair

Lower Plenty’s hopes of bouncing straight back to Division 1 in 2021 have received a big boost with the return to two premiership players, including the 2011 flag-winning captain.

Lower Plenty coach Gary Ramsay and captain Billy Barden lift the premiership cup. Picture: Robert Mckechnie

The Barden boys are back together at Lower Plenty.

Bears’ 2011 premiership captain Billy Barden has signed on for 2021, rejoining brother and current club captain Darcy Barden.

The pair will be twin towers in attack next season and be sure to give rival NFL Division 2 coaches and defenders a headache.

Fellow premiership winner Reece Geary is also back at Montmorency Park in a boost to Lower Plenty’s defence.

Bears coach Ben Turner was rapt to have two experienced, respected players back.

Billy Barden in action for Lower Plenty.

“It’s exciting having someone who’s had such a distinguished career at our club returning,” he said.

“Billy’s definitely someone who’s held in high regard and he’s made the decision to come back and probably finish at the club he started at.

“Both had been playing up at Mulwala and I think where they’re lives are at they were keen to stay back in Melbourne and reconnect with us at Lower Plenty.

“Any time you can attract guys that have played at the club previously and won premiership is really important.

“We’re excited to see how the fit in and what influence they can have on our team.”

Barden departed Lower Plenty in 2017, shifting to Macleod for a year and a half, before joining Mulwala half way through 2019.

Geary last played for the Bears in 2015, spent two seasons at Macleod, and featured in eight matches for Mulwala last year.

The pair were named best-on-ground in the Lions’ Murray league semi-final loss to Tongala.

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The double recruiting success adds to last summer’s additions; Nick Beames (Greensborough), Kieran Malone (Old Eltham), James Elliott (Yarrawonga), Rory Kavanagh (Diamond Creek) and Tom Scott (Macleod).

Turner said the club was happy with it’s list but would never turn away talent.

“We never say never, we’re not actively looking for further recruits but you never know what could fall on your doorstep,” he said.

“(Barden and Geary) are an experienced pair, so that will be the main thing with our young group, we hope we can benefit from their experience and they can impart a bit of that on our young group.”