Bell Park signs dual Hampden league best and fairest winner Jett Bermingham

One of the best young talents in country footy will make the move to the Geelong Football Netball League in a coup for Bell Park.

Jett Bermingham has signed with Bell Park. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Bell Park has signed one of the best young talents in country footy, securing dual Hampden league best and fairest winner Jett Bermingham in a boost to the Dragons’ 2025 finals hopes.

The prolific 185 centimetre midfielder helped North Warrnmabool to a grand final last season as he finished joint-winner in the Hapmden league’s Maskell Medal.

Incredibly, Bermingham won his first Maskell Medal at the age of 19 from just nine games back in 2021 in a season where he played five matches as an over-age player for the GWV Rebels.

Now 22, he will try his hand in the Geelong competition for the Dragons, who have been searching for a ball-winner to bolster their engine room.

Bell Park coach James Saker had met with Bermingham down in Warrnambool in the off-season and was thrilled to land a player they had been eyeing for several years.

Bell Park’s Jack Sarcevic celebrates a goal last season. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“He’s someone that we’ve spoken to for a number of seasons,” Saker asiad.

“I was able to catch up with Jett whilst away visiting family in Warrnambool and have a really good chat about what his season was going to look like and what 2025 might look like,” Saker explained.

“Essentially it was up to him as to whether or not he wants to make the move to Geelong. Once that was the way he decided to go, we were confident he was going to come our way.

“I think there’s a bit of everything involved, but one of the reasons I think is he’s certainly looking to challenge himself in the GFL. He’s still very young and got a lot of really good footy ahead of him.

“He’s a very high quality footballer and always great to add quality talent to your list, but in Jett’s case he is a midfielder – which is certainly an area where we’re looking to strengthen. Really happy he’s decided to choose Bell Park for his tilt at GFL.”

Bermingham is Bell Park’s second signing of the off-season after adding Canberran ruck-forward Oliver Hicks, who will provide support for star ruckman Ollie Bridgewater.

The Dragons have managed to retain most of their list after a fifth-placed finish in 2024 with former Richmond player Kaelan Bradtke, who has returned to his home club Kaelan Bradtke, Melbourne-bound Ben Worme and Will Tobin the only departures.

“With (Bermingham) and Oliver Hicks coming on board it really bolsters a couple of areas we were looking to improve and with retention of the list it makes it a positive summer. In terms of our list, hopefully we have got a bit more to add,” Saker said.

Bell Park will launch a junior development program called ‘Dragons DNA’ in February.

The initiative will be run by Geelong Grammar coach and former Geelong Falcons coach Andrew Allthorpe, ex-Colac coach Rowan McSparron, Geelong academy and pathways manager Chris Lynch and former Vic Country assistant coach Michael Bright.

Originally published as Bell Park signs dual Hampden league best and fairest winner Jett Bermingham