By Nicholas Creely
One of Noble Park’s favourite sons will return next year, with former AFL star James Gwilt signing on for the 2017 season.
Gwilt is well known as the best-on-ground in the Eastern Football League grand final in 2004 and was subsequently taken by St Kilda in the 2004 National Draft.
He went on to play 126 AFL games with St Kilda, including two AFL grand finals across a career at the Saints spanning nine years.
However at the end of 2014, Gwilt was delisted by the Saints, despite enjoying a productive 2013 season.
He was then taken by Essendon as a delisted free-agent and played a further two years at the Bombers, playing 26 matches and providing a youthful side with some much needed experience.
Gwilt will now return to his roots at Noble Park in what is set to be the biggest signing in the EDFL off-season.
New Bulls president Grant Connolly was ecstatic at the signing of the veteran, and said it was a win-win for both parties.
“It was always on his agenda that once he finished his AFL career, he’d come back to his club of origin and play with his mates,” he said.
“We’ve been talking to James for a while, not constantly, but certainly it was always on the back of both our minds, and now the time has come.
“It obviously got more serious when he was delisted, though.”
After the Bulls fell short in their quest for a senior premiership last season, the signing of Gwilt was sure to have them as a contender when the 2017 season kicked off.
“His ability is obviously a great inclusion for the club, and what it does is it allows other players around him to step up, and give them confidence to see someone like Jimmy playing alongside them,” Connolly said.
“He has experience at the top-level and, in particular, with a lot of our kids coming through, he’s going to be a wonderful role model for our group.
“Our supporters are excited, as are we.”
