There will be no Ballarat homecoming for former West Coast Eagles defender Mitch Brown.
The Ballarat Swans junior graduate will play with VAFA division one club St Kevin’s Old Boys next season.
The Swans and fellow Ballarat Football League club Bacchus Marsh, and North Ballarat Roosters each expressed a keen interest in securing Brown’s services after he was delisted by the Eagles and failed to find a new AFL home in Victoria.
Brown, 28, knocked back a new contract with West Coast owing to his desire to move back to Victoria after his wife Shae was signed by Collingwood in the newly formed National Netball League.
BFL reigning premier Bacchus Marsh ultimately made the strongest play for Brown.
His brother-in-law Jackson Bolton played in its premiership team this year.
Bacchus Marsh coach Travis Hodgson said with its main recruiting targets already finalised, Brown would have been a bonus.
He said the Cobras remained open to landing one more frontline player if the “right one” came along, but was satisfied with their list as it stood.
Bacchus Marsh has lost only AFL experienced duo Cam Richardson (Gordon) and Damian Cupido (Bairnsdale), and secured Scott Sherlock (Werribee Tigers), Ryley Stuhldreier (South Barwon) and Dean Heta (North Albury).
St Kevin’s football manager Michael Christian, in confirming the signing of Brown, said it had been a big off-season for the club with Mark Jamar (Essendon) and Jay Schultz (Port Adelaide) also secured.
