VFL champion Ben Jolley weighs up move back to Essendon

Keen to play on in 2022, Ben Jolley is being linked with the club where he began his long career.

Ben Jolley on the training track as a young Bomber.

VFL great Ben Jolley could finish his state league career where he started it.

It’s understood Essendon has sounded out the 35-year-old Port Melbourne midfielder about a playing and mentoring role in 2022.

Jolley needs only 13 more matches to join Port champions Billy Swan and Fred Cook as the only players to reach 300 in the VFA/VFL.

Jolley said a few weeks ago that he was keen to play on next year, but the Borough have given him no guarantees about a new deal.

It’s understood they have invited him to train and take his chances with a contract.

Under new coach Adam Skrobalak, Port is making changes to a squad that slipped to the bottom of the ladder in this year’s shortened VFL season.

Jolley joined Port Melbourne in 2019 after being let go by Williamstown, where he played 217 senior games, was a premiership captain during a six-year run as skipper, and collected seven VFL team-of-the-year jumpers.

He set out in the VFL as an Essendon-listed player with Bendigo Bombers in 2005.

Drafted from Calder Cannons, where he was captain, Jolley rose from the rookie list to play four AFL games with Essendon in 2006.

He continued with the Bombers until the end of 2007, when he joined Willy.

His former Essendon teammate Brent Stanton has been appointed coach of the Dons’ VFL team.

Matt Buntine takes a kick for the Giants this year.

In other VFL news:

* Delisted GWS defender Matt Buntine will continue his career with the Casey Demons.

Buntine, recruited from the Dandenong Stingrays, was the No 5 pick in the 2011 national draft and made his debut in 2012.

He joined the Giants’ leadership group in 2016 but underwent a knee reconstruction the following year.

Buntine, 28, played eight games for the Giants this year and finished with 67.

The Demons regard him as an exceptional leader and he’ll help replace the experience of former captain Jack Hutchins.

* Coburg will this week begin to announce some of its recruits and it’s understood former Collingwood-lister Sam McLarty will be among them.

McLarty had a run with Essendon VFL this year after crossing from Williamstown, whom he joined in 2019.

The 197cm key position player spent two years on Collingwood’s list after being drafted from the Oakleigh Chargers.

* Box Hill Hawks are in talks with delisted Western Bulldog Ben Cavarra as he weighs his next move.

Cavarra, 25, came out of the Eastern Ranges and was drafted from Williamstown after a VFL career that took in two best and fairests at Frankston.

The little left-footer played four AFL games for the Bulldogs in 2020.