NFL 2018: Family ties draw Ricky Dyson to Banyule

RICKY Dyson says he’ll be forever thankful to Bundoora after making the move to fellow Northern Football League club Banyule for 2019.

Ricky Dyson won two premierships as a player with Bundoora. Picture: George Salpigtidis

CLOSE friendships with former Essendon teammate Brent Stanton and brother-in-law Paul Harris helped convince Ricky Dyson to continue his playing career with Banyule.

The dual Bundoora premiership winner has landed a coaching role with Essendon’s VFL side and will juggle state league duties with playing next year.

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Dyson is expected to be available for about six Northern Football League home-and-away games for the Bears, who are shaping as a genuine premiership contender after reaching this year’s Division 2 preliminary final.

“They have got a really good junior program and their connection as a senior club with the junior program is what is really impressive,’ Dyson said.

“They know how to look after the younger ones coming through, try and develop them.

“They have got a really good mix now of some older guys that will come in and help support the younger crew they have got.”

Ricky Dyson addresses his players during his time as coach at Bundoora.. Picture: Ian Currie

Harris was Dyson’s right-hand man during Bundoora’s premiership season in 2017 and has landed the Banyule coaching role after Pete Davey stepped down.

“When you are coaching you need someone you can really trust on the sidelines and along with the rest of my coaching staff, he was the one that held everything together,” Dyson said.

The 33-year-old spent the past two seasons as coach at Bundoora, leading the club to the Division 1 flag last year.

Dyson has spent the past six seasons with the Bulls, featuring in premiership sides in 2013 and 2017.

“I really fell in love with the place,” he said.

“I am just so thankful to them for inviting me there after I left Essendon.

“That was the first club we went to and we had some success straight away in 2013.

“Then giving me an opportunity to start my coaching career.”

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

Dyson said his experience as Bundoora coach had been “very rewarding”.

“They built a really strong bond together and over the course of the year got better,” he said. “Some younger guys really flourished and that is why you coach, to see guys get better and want to improve.

“To have some success at the end of the season is, one, why you play football, but definitely why you coach.”

Dyson will join two other ex-Essendon players at Banyule, where former Bombers forward Scott Gumbleton is captain and Stanton featured 10 times in 2018.

The left-footer, who played 114 AFL games, said he was excited to play again with Stanton, who was the best man at his wedding.

“I’m not sure how many it will be, but I am sure we will squeeze a couple in throughout the year, which is pretty exciting,” he said.

The Bears have also signed talls Jack Langford (Macleod) and Tim Martin (Sandhurst).

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