Family ties bring Kayne Pettifer back to Kyabram to play

THE prospect of returning home to be closer to family was a key factor in luring Kayne Pettifer home to Kyabram next season.

Dreamtime at the 'G. Essendon v Richmond. MCG. Kayne Pettifer celebrates his 2nd goal

THE prospect of returning home to play closer to family was a key factor in luring Kayne Pettifer home to Kyabram next season.

The former Richmond Tiger is one of the latest in a swag of recruits returning to the Goulburn Valley league to club to play under new coach Paul Newman, himself a Bombers stalwart.

Pettifer played in 113 AFL games for Richmond between 2001 to 2009, then returned to his home club, Kyabram, in 2010 when the Bombers lost the decider to Shepparton United.

He played the past three seasons with Ovens and Murray club Yarrawonga, including its 2013 premiership.

Melbourne-based Pettifer said there were some “long nights” thinking about his decision to leave the Pigeons, but he wanted to play at his home club to see more of his mother, sisters, nieces and grandparents who live in Kyabram and nearby towns.

His brother-in-law, Daniel Kent, will be an assistant coach under Newman, and his brother Drew also umpires locally.

“I thought it would be great to get back there and see the family every weekend,” Pettifer said.

“Paul put that to me and it was a very hard decision because I love Yarrawonga and it’s very tough to tell them, but they understood.”

Pettifer said he hoped to finish his playing career with Kyabram.

“I’m 33, but you never know. I love my footy and I’ll play as long as I can until my body packs it in. It depends how long I can play at a good level,” he said.

Pettifer joins Kyabram District league best-and-fairest winners Steve Thomson (2011) and Josh Pell (2013), Kyabram 2013 premiership ruckman Jake Reeves and Ryan Butler in returning to the club.

“It’s all very exciting … getting guys that have come through the junior program at the footy club,” Newman said.

“Hopefully it creates a bit of excitement for the community as well.”

Kyabram lost this year’s grand final to Benalla.