NFL 2019: Ex-Brisbane Lion and Carlton player Tom Bell signs with Greensborough for two years
Greensborough has landed one of the signings of the Northern Football League off-season, adding a former Brisbane Lion and Carlton midfielder on a two-year deal.
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Greensborough has landed one of the signings of the Northern Football League off-season, adding former Brisbane Lion and Carlton midfielder Tom Bell on a two-year deal.
Bell, who played 51 games for the Blues and 21 matches for the Lions after being drafted in 2012, has joined the Boro as a playing assistant coach for 2019 and 2020.
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The 27-year-old goalkicking midfielder will add further class to the bevy of on-ball options at coach Mick Harford’s disposal.
“We are really thrilled with the pick up and he will be a really handy inclusion into our team,” Harford said.
Greensborough signed ball magnet Ben Fennell from Montmorency in September and also has the likes of Charlie Molyneux and skipper Chris Clark in its on-ball brigade.
The Boro finished fifth in NFL Division 1 last year and Bell’s addition represents a significant statement of intent as the club targets its first premiership since 2014.
“They are a dime and a dozen and he is going to come on as a playing assistant,” Harford said.
“He’ll assist with our midfield and try and get our mids to play forward and be damaging in that forward 50.
“It just gives us a full complement of amazing midfielders. With Ben Fennell, Charlie Molyneux, Tom Bell, Chris Clark, Tynan Smith, there’s two rotations just going off your a-graders.
“It gives us enormous depth and provides us the ability to send them forward be dangerous when they are forward, which is an absolute luxury.”
Greensborough has also signed ruckman Liam Read (Riddell), small forward Damon Marcon (Epping) and North Melbourne VFL-listed on-baller Jordan McIvor-Clark.
Harford said Bell would join the club’s pre-season when it resumes training in coming weeks.
“The great thing is, he played AFL last year. From our perspective, it’s fantastic,” he said.
“From a club perspective, hopefully he brings a bit of hype, gets more people to the club.
“But from an on-field perspective, to have his talent, plus his leadership and now he’s assistant coaching, it’ll be invaluable.
“To say we are thrilled with the announcement would be a massive understatement.”
Harford revealed there had been no shortage of suitors for Bell's signature from Victoria and interstate after he was delisted by the Lions.
“I know we were competing against a fair few others and that’s probably why it has taken a bit of time,” he said.
“He’s a considered young man and he wanted to make the right call from a career perspective.
“In this case, we have been very fortunate and we are thrilled.”
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