JJ LISTON Trophy winner Nick Rippon has swapped allegiance and named Lake Wendouree as his home club for the upcoming season.
While listed with the North Ballarat Roosters – where his main focus will be in 2016 – it is possible Rippon could feature for the Ballarat Football League club at times during its campaign.
Rippon has lodged a clearance from junior club East Point, where he has not played a senior game.
It is understood Rippon hasn’t been targeted by Lakers recruiters, but instead sought a move to the Kangaroos’ rivals because of a strong friendship group at the club.
Rippon became the fourth North Ballarat player to claim the Victorian Football League’s best and fairest award in 2015, joining Myles Sewell, Steve Clifton and Julian Field on the honour roll.
While not expecting to see much of Rippon at Wendouree Reserve in 2016, Lakers senior coach Gavin Webb told The Courier that the club was please to have the midfielder join its ranks.
“We’re rapt to have Nick involved with our club, even though we understand he probably won’t play for us in the near future due to his career at the VFL and who knows beyond that,” Webb said.
Rippon is the Lakers’ second VFL-listed signing, joining new Roosters recruit Bailey Edwards at the Lakers.
Edwards, a midfielder, is in his first season out of the under-18 TAC Cup competition, where he played for the Bendigo Pioneers.
Webb said the club would help Edwards in his endeavors to play in the VFL.
“He will be a good acquisition. He’s very fit and has obviously done a pre-season at North and he wanted a home club in the BFL,” Webb said.
Lake Wendouree, which lost in the semi finals last season, begins its 2016 campaign with a round one clash against Redan on April 16.
