HAVING had a taste of the VFL this year, teenager Harrison Huntley has signed with the Bendigo Gold.
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Huntley played with Kyneton in the Bendigo Football League this year, winning the Tigers’ best and fairest, but also played four games in the VFL with the Gold.
“This is a sign of the direction we’re taking by getting these young guys in who want to play VFL footy,” Gold coach Aussie Jones said yesterday.
“Harrison is a perfect candidate for us... he’s played Bendigo footy and obviously had an outstanding season to win Kyneton’s best and fairest as not only a young player, but also missing four games while playing with the Gold.
“There’s obviously a big inconsistency with coming into the VFL for a game here and there, but Harrison settled into it really well this year, so there are good signs.”
Huntley – who spent most of this year playing in defence with Kyneton – will offer the Gold a key position player who can play at either end.
“We’ve done some full-ground training drills where he has been up forward. He presents well and has a really good set of hands,” Jones said.
“He certainly has that versatility to play either key forward or back for us.”
Huntley, 19, said he relished the experience of playing alongside Essendon-listed players with the Gold this year during his four VFL games, which included the elimination final loss to Williamstown.
“It was an amazing experience playing with the Gold this year, particularly being able to get information from the AFL players about how they go about their preparation and approach to the game,” Huntley said.
“Coming from Woodend to Bendigo for training a few times a week is going to be a fairly big commitment, but that’s how serious you’ve got to take it if you want to play at VFL level.”