VFL 2019: Coburg set to sound out Williamstown great Ben Jolley about playing on next season

Coburg is set to sound out VFL legend Ben Jolley about continuing his career at Piranha Park after his sudden departure from Williamstown.

Williamstown champion Ben Jolley will move on after 269 games. Picture: Martin Keep

Coburg is set to sound out VFL legend Ben Jolley about continuing his career at Piranha Park after his sudden departure from Williamstown.

The Seagulls announced the 2015 premiership skipper and games record holder would leave Williamstown on Wednesday after a 269-game, 82-goal career.

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Jolley, who played four AFL games for Essendon, will have no shortage of suitors for his services.

But Coburg is determined to be near the front of the queue for the 32-year-old as it hunts experience after the departure of three members of its leadership group — Tom Goodwin (Port Melbourne), Nick Mellington (Williamstown) and Nathan Blair (Romsey).

Won’t be a surprise if other VFL clubs sound out the great Ben Jolley about 2019 after his departure from Williamstown. Believe he’s open to the prospect of continuing his VFL career elsewhere. He’s 32, fit and can still inspire with his desire ....

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) December 5, 2018

“There’s no doubt that if he’s looking to extend his career in the VFL, he would be someone that we would love to have a chat to,” Coburg coach Leigh Adams said.

“We’ve got a really young group and from all reports, the standouts in his career have been his character and his professionalism.

“If he could pass that on to a few of our young blokes that would be fantastic.

“But I’m really not sure what his next move is at the moment.”

Adams said he had a “little bit of a relationship” with Jolley after playing against him.

“If he still thinks he has got a bit left in the tank, I couldn’t imagine him just walking away from the game,” he said.

Williamstown’s Ben Jolley reels in a mark during a VFL preliminary final. Picture: Michael Klein

Lions general manager Seb Spagnuolo confirmed the club had exchanged text messages with Jolley and said joining Coburg would be a “great opportunity for him to leave a great legacy” at the stand-alone club and in the state league.

Adams said he realised the battle for Jolley’s services would be fierce.

“He might not have the drive to play VFL footy,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s too many clubs in the VFL that would be able to match (financially) what he would be able to get back at local level.

“It’s really dependent on what he wants to do to finish off his career.”

Adams said the club would “be doing ourselves a disservice” if it did not put a strong case to Jolley about continuing his career at the Lions.

“There’s no harm in asking the question,” he said.

Seagulls CEO Jason Reddick said Jolley’s achievements at the club had been “second to none”.

“Ben’s sustained performances at the top level are testament to the enormous dedication and professionalism that he has displayed in preparing himself, over his whole career, to be the best player he can be,” Reddick said.

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