Heidelberg premiership captain Sam Gilmore will play in NFNL Division 3 in 2024

Old Paradians coach Ben Turner reveals how the Raiders signed Heidelberg’s two-time NFNL Division 1 premiership captain Sam Gilmore.

Sam and Will Gilmore join Old Paradians

One of the shock off-season rumours is now reality.

Heidelberg’s two-time NFNL Division 1 premiership captain is stepping back to join Division 3 newcomer Old Paradians in 2024.

The star ruckman joined the Tigers in 2015 and has gone on to become a club and league great, winning three flags, two club best-and-fairests, a Coaches’ MVP in 2019 and earning three Team of the Year guernseys.

Gilmore joins his brother Will Gilmore at Garvey Oval, a familiar home having attended Parade College as a student.

He immediately gives the Raiders the No. 1 ruckman in the competition, a significant boost to the club as it makes its maiden foray into the Northern league.

Coach Ben Turner said the family connection played a pivotal role.

“It’s a great endorsement of the footy club,” Turner said.

“It’s not just Sam, it’s Will as well, the two brothers wanting to play some footy together is the main driving force behind this.

“Will is returning, he played for the club previously, it’s only bee the last two years he hasn’t played football and he’s a past best-and-fairest winner himself.

“Obviously he’s coming off the back of being a very, very good Division 1 ruckman.

“Being able to utilise his experience and the career he’s had at Heidelberg is going to be great for our group, it’s handy when big fellas like that commit to playing for your club.”

Turner revealed the Gilmores retained close connections with Old Paradians.

After several conversations since the end of the season, president Simon Vincent finally got the call he’d be dreaming of.

Sam Gilmore battles Hamish Shepheard in the ruck NFNL. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“There was a bit of talk about being some interest, there’s some people at our club that have a close connection to Sam,” Turner said.

“The conversations started to come along, no pressure, and in the end there was a phone call made to our president that Sam was keen to join us, which has created a massive buzz.”

Despite returning to his school old boys club, Gilmore will not be a one-pointer in 2024 as he may have been in the VAFA.

Gilmore is also expected to spend some time travelling overseas next year and will miss a portion of the season.

His new coach plans to use his experience as much as possible, especially during pre-season, to boost his playing group ahead of their first season in a new competition.

“I’m not sure of the exact times he’s going and how much he’s missing but there is a small portion that he’ll miss,” Turner said.

“None-the-less he’ll be around when we start pre-season and we’re pretty pumped to have him at Old Paradians.”

Meanwhile, Will Gilmore’s return is a significant boost in its own right.

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The younger brother has spent the past two seasons out of the game but is a club best-and-fairest and Team of the Year player.

Turner expects him to fill a key position role at either end of the ground.

“Will is quite tall himself and my understand from Will is he’s played key position previously at the club,” he said.

“It could be forward it could be back but we’re just rapt to have Will back playing football.”