With the VFL Development League ending following the 2017 season, Brock Kennedy, Jordyn Cotter and Billy Crofts have decided to return to play local footy on a full time basis next year with the Bloods after spending time on the Werribee VFL list.
For Kennedy the two seasons spent at Werribee have improved him immensely as a footballer, despite a run of injuries this year restricting him to just a handful of games. “I’m most excited about coming back home and hopefully playing some good footy. I think we can give the comp a bit of a shake up next year”. Renowned for his professionalism on the training track, Kennedy has also been impressed with the standard of the 14 sessions held before Christmas. “Training has been great so far with the strict program Tymmsy has implemented and I’m looking forward to ramping it up next year. I’ve noticed training as one big group has really improved club atmosphere and has been great”.
The return of Kennedy to the Bloods is also exciting for those within the club who have seen him develop through the Club’s underage teams and into Senior ranks. Football Manager Brad Jamison believes that Kennedy will drive the standards up across the board. “Brock is very professional with the way he trains and I think he’s gained a lot of confidence in what he can do with his football from the time he spent at Werribee”.
Cotter and Crofts also had injury interrupted seasons this year – their first at Werribee after graduating from the Western Jets TAC Cup team at the end of 2016.
For Cotter the past two seasons have been split between Melton, Western Jets, Werribee and school football commitments with St Pats College Ballarat, where he has a best afield on the MCG in a Herald Sun Shield Grand Final to his name. In 2018, he’s keen to settle down and play his football with one team and overcome those injuries which impacted his 2017 season. “I’m excited to be back at the Bloods and playing with my mates this upcoming season. Although I haven’t trained as much as I’d like to it’s been good to work with the new coaching group”.
Cotter’s football journey has been an interesting one since he was part of the Bloods Under 16.5 Premiership Team in 2014. Football Manager Brad Jamison noted that Cotter has had to work hard for opportunities in the past few years. “I’m really proud of what Jordyn has been able to do with his footy. He was cut from the Jets pre-season squad ahead of the 2015 season, but forced the Jets to take notice at local level and once he got an opportunity there he never looked back. He’s got a very good footy brain for someone so young and his hands are second to none, so hopefully he can get his body right and have a big year in 2018”.
For Crofts, he’s also excited about playing footy with his mates again on a full-time basis for the first time in two years and hopes his time at the Western Jets and Werribee taught him many things that he can bring back to the Bloods in 2018. “The biggest thing I have learnt from my time at the Western Jets and Werribee VFL is the level of training standards required, and I am looking forward to implementing those standards at Melton for the 2018 season”.
A return to local football on a full time basis has also been refreshing after a frustrating run with injuries. “I have found training enjoyable as Tymmsy has already introduced new ideas to the playing group, and personally am looking forward to the next section of training, getting through unscathed after interrupted preseasons in the past two years”.
In only a short time, Football Manager Brad Jamison has noticed Crofts display more confidence and leadership on the training track. “Billy sets very high standards for himself and he’s already got others who are following the example he sets which is great. I think any footballer would want to be known as someone that others look up to and Billy shows all the signs of being one of those people. He’s also played some excellent senior footy for us in the past and we are keen to see him back out there and hopefully injury free in 2018”.
Last Modified on 21/12/2017 00:17