One of the Central Highlands Football League club’s greatest exports will pull on the blue and white hoops again in 2018.

Sewell will make the move from South Croydon in the Eastern Football League, where he played for the past two seasons and won a division one premiership in 2017.

Newlyn president Simon Dwyer said the gun onballer’s return was massive news for the Cats.

“He’s always been keen to come back and play at his home club,” Dwyer told The Courier.

“He's got some good mates involved playing.”

Dwyer said it was particularly exciting that Sewell would return to play for the Cats before reaching 30 years of age.

“The league has obviously had some great players come back in the past that have played AFL or VFL, but generally they are towards the end of their career,” Dwyer said.

“So to get him when he is only this age is fantastic.”

Sewell, who is the brother of Hawthorn premiership player Brad and former Newlyn coach Adam, played much of his junior football with the Cats and also managed one senior game in 2005.

His long and decorated career at VFL level started with Coburg and included three flags with the North Ballarat Roosters.

Sewell is a multiple state representative, VFL team of the year member and club best and fairest. He also won the VFL’s highest individual honour – the JJ Liston Trophy – in 2009.

The past North Ballarat Rebels best and fairest announced his retirement from the Roosters in 2015 before heading to play with South Croydon.

Newlyn is looking to jump from a disappointing 14th-placed finish to last season when coached by Dan Wehrung and Chris Dwyer.

The pair has been reappointed to continue in the job in 2018.