NFL 2018: Banyule signs Ricky Dyson, Tim Martin and Jack Langford for 2019

Preliminary finalist Banyule is now home to three former Essendon AFL players as the club bolsters its list for the 2019 NFL Division 2 campaign.

Banyule coach Paul Harris with Jack Langford, Scott Gumbleton, Tim Martin and Ricky Dyson. Picture: Supplied

BANYULE’S hopes of securing a spot in the top flight of the Northern Football Leagues have received a significant boost with the signing of former Essendon player Ricky Dyson.

The 33-year-old has spent the past six years at Bundoora, featuring in grand final victories in 2013 and 2017.

PAUL HARRIS LOCKED IN AS BANYULE COACH

Dyson has landed a coaching role with Essendon’s VFL team, which is set to limit him to 8-10 appearances for the Bears next season.

He joins former Essendon teammates Scott Gumbleton and Brent Stanton at Banyule, which progressed to the Division 2 preliminary final this year after claiming the Division 3 flag in 2017.

Dyson’s brother in law Paul Harris, who has spent the past two seasons working under him as an assistant at Bundoora, has been appointed coach at the Bears.

Dyson is one of three major acquisitions at the club, joining Tim Martin and Jack Langford.

Ricky Dyson assesses his options during the 2017 NFL Division 1 decider. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“We are a really young side, so he’s definitely going to add the experience we need and add to our midfield depth at the same time,” Banyule football operations manager Jay Brockwell said of Dyson.

“He’s completely buying in. He was here (Thursday) night, all the guys signed up and are a ready to go.

“He’s really excited about what’s coming.

“Him and Paul are obviously really close and ‘Stants’ was his best man at his wedding, so it was (a) pretty easy (decision) for him.”

The Bears are hopeful of playing more night fixtures next season after a lighting upgrade at R.J. Brockwell Oval, which could increase the matches Dyson features in.

But the 114-gamer is set to attend all weekly training sessions in a fillip for Banyule’s young group.

“The playing is the bonus, but I think the off-field stuff we’re going to get from him, it can’t be measured,” Brockwell said.

Martin and Langford will bolster the Bears’ ruck stocks and will free up Gumbleton to fill a role at either centre half-back or centre half-forward.

“Jack’s obviously a former Banyule junior,” Brockwell said.

“He’s always had the intention of coming back at some stage. He only left Banyule because he went to Essendon VFL and had to play Division 1.

“He played a few games with Macleod, but he felt the time was right to come back. His old man is still heavily involved at Banyule and his brother plays in the reserves.

“Tim has been training with us the second half of the year because he was playing up at Bendigo.

“He is mates with Josh O’Connor and Scott Gumbleton and a few other boys, so that transition was fairly easy as well.

“I think he felt the fit was right to get involved with us.”

The Bears have lost Bailey Jordan, but expectations will be high next year after they became the first Division 3 premier to qualify for Division 2 finals the following year in 2018.

“We knew we had to fill our big men stocks, just to shore up our spine. We’ve more than done that now,” Brockwell said.

“It’s all about the getting the kids we’ve got and surrounding them with these big boys, and hopefully it holds us in good stead.

“We exceeded expectations this year, but footy’s a funny game. Everyone’s getting better each year.”