VFL 2019: Captain Tom Wilson and Josh Hill re-sign with Northern Blues

Revered captain Tom Wilson has committed to a ninth season with Northern Blues.

Tom Wilson leads Northern Blues into battle. Picture: Tim Murdoch

Revered captain Tom Wilson has committed to a ninth season with Northern Blues.

The champion on-baller became the fourth three-time winner of the VFL club’s best and fairest this season and featured in his 100th state league game.

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The 26-year-old, who averaged 26 disposals per game this year, is considered one of the VFL’s finest players and has been the Blues’ skipper since 2016.

Wilson and former West Coast and Western Bulldogs forward Josh Hill are the latest players to recommit to Northern Blues as the club seeks to end an eight-year finals drought in 2019.

“Tom doesn’t need any introduction at this club, what he has offered as a player and as captain is pretty remarkable,” Blues general manager Ben Brennan said.

“Along with Josh’s experience at AFL level and the form he showed this year, we’re delighted both are on board once again.”

Northern Blues skipper Tom Wilson will enter his ninth season with the club next year. Picture: Kylie Else

Hill, who played 173 AFL games, excelled in an unfamiliar role across halfback in his first season in navy blue.

The 29-year-old played 17 games, averaging 2.4 tackles, 6.4 marks and 16.5 disposals per game.

Hill finished third in the club’s best and fairest count, 10 votes behind Wilson and six votes astern of runner-up Sam Fisher.

Former Sydney rookie Fisher and ex-Port Adelaide forward Jesse Palmer headline the club’s other re-signings for next season, while ex-AFL duo Keiran Collins and Alex Johnson are new arrivals.

Sydney premiership defender Johnson, who is recovering from an ACL injury, has joined the Blues as head of development.

Johnson worked with Sydney’s NEAFL team during his luckless stint with the Swans.

“The way he has responded to setbacks has shown enormous character and he will be a tremendous addition to our group — he already has been,” Brennan said.

Johnson is expected to return to the field with Northern when he completes his recovery from a knee injury sustained in August.

Collins played one AFL game with the Western Bulldogs after being chosen at pick no. 26 in the 2015 AFL draft.

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