The Blues have confirmed key forward Jak Kennedy Hunt has put pen to paper for the 2019 season.

Kennedy Hunt arrives at the Central Highlands Football League club from Inverleigh, where he was based for the past two years.

The prolific goal-kicker dominated during his time in the Geelong and District league, winning the Whitley Medal as the competition’s best and fairest player in 2017. During that campaign, he booted 110 majors as the Hawks were beaten in the grand final by Bell Post Hill.

Inverleigh also lost the decider last season, but Kennedy Hunt missed the second half of the year with injury.

Ballan vice president David O’Hanlon said once it was known Kennedy Hunt was leaving Inverleigh, the club decided to chase his services.

O’Hanlon said Kennedy Hunt had helped the Blues secure more big signings in Blake Hutchinson and Simon Seddon.

Kennedy Hunt, Hutchinson and Seddon were all named in the Geelong and District league’s team of the year in 2018.

O’Hanlon said Hutchinson shaped as an inside midfield option for the Blues, with Seddon likely to play in the middle and up forward.

Last season, Hutchinson played 16 matches for the Hawks, was named in the best on nine occasions and kicked 22 goals. Seddon also played 16 games and booted 46 majors while getting in the best seven times.

The former Inverleigh trio will boost a Ballan side that recently recruited Luke Edmondson.

Edmondson played three VFL games with Frankston last season and has previously featured at state league level with Port Melbourne.

He featured for Seaford in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean competition this year when not required at VFL level.

Edmondson is expected to play in the midfield and in attack for the Blues.

The four promising recruits add much-needed experience to a young group, according to O’Hanlon, who is still hopeful former coach Jason McNamara will decide to stay with the club as a player in 2019.

McNamara stood down from the coaching position at the end of the 2018 season, which saw the Blues finish 11^th on the ladder.

He has been succeeded by Tristan Batten, who will serve as a non-playing leader next year.

Ballan last played senior finals in 2015 under former coach Mark Williams. The side finished eighth on the table that year and reached the preliminary final before losing to Gordon.