BALLARAT seems to have landed arguably the biggest recruiting coup of the Ballarat Football League season, securing triple VFL premiership winner Myles Sewell for the back end of the season.
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Sewell, who has spent most of the year overseas, has lodged a clearance from his former home club of Newlyn and is expected to pull on a Swans jumper when he returns home from overseas in about one month.
The clearance is yet to be officially approved, although Newlyn has indicated it will not hesitate to clear him.
With Ballarat already posing a genuine premiership threat with six wins from eight games this season, the inclusion of the 2009 J.J. Liston Trophy winner adds more firepower to the already impressive Swans arsenal.
He will join older brother Adam, who returned to the club this year and has taken on an assistant coaching role.
Swans coach Ash Baker told the playing group of the plans on Thursday night.
“We met with him earlier in the year and hoped to get him across but it was only this week we agreed to terms,” Baker said.
“If Adam wasn’t with us we probably wouldn’t have been able to get Myles across.
“His football capabilities are good – very good. The experience he has and his football knowledge will be great for us.”
Among an outstanding VFL career that has been littered with accolades, Sewell won premierships with North Ballarat Roosters in 2008, 2009 and 2010, was in the VFL team of the year when he won the league best and fairest award and was also Norm Goss medallist for best on ground in a VFL grand final in 2010.
He also represented Victoria three times in state league showdowns.
“We have been pleased with our depth so far this year, but this would just add to it that bit more,” Baker said.
“To have someone like Myles in your side, any club would take that.”
It is not known exactly when Sewell will play, although he will need to play three matches in order to qualify for finals.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au