Former Greater Western Victoria Rebels player Josh Chatfield is on his way to North Ballarat City in the Ballarat Football League.
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The 18-year-old is making the move after playing in a Hampden league senior premiership with Koroit.
Chatfield is not new to Ballarat.
He has spent the past two years as boarder at St Patrick’s College while part of the Rebels’ squad in the TAC Cup.
He is remaining in Ballarat to embark on a building apprenticeship.
Chatfield said he was looking forward to the challenge ahead.
“I have loved my time at Koroit and it was a hard decision to leave,” Chatfield said.
“I just wanted a year when I didn’t have to travel to play footy and I could settle. The BFL is a good level of footy so it will be a good test.”
North Ballarat City football manger Phil Crouch said the club was excited to land Chatfield.
“We think Josh will be a good fit for us,” he said.
“He knows a lot of the young blokes already at the club so that will help make a smooth transition.
“Josh can obviously play forward and we are keen to build his fitness and run him through the middle as well,” he said.
Chatfield arrives as another Koroit premiership player leaves North Ballarat City.
Marcus Darmody announced earlier in the off-season that he was moving to Newlyn in the Central Highlands league after just one injury-interrupted season back with North Ballarat.
THE new BFNL under-nine football competition will have a full contingent of Ballarat-based clubs.
Ballarat Storm, Ballarat Swans, East Point, Lake Wendouree, Mt Clear, North Ballarat, Redan and Sebastopol have each agreed to field seniors and reserves teams.
BFNL operations manager Shane Anwyl said criteria for the Friday night round-robin competition included minimising travel and time requirements by being play at one venue.
He said the plan was to complete all games within two hours.
The under-nines were announced ealier this as part of a realignment of all under-age copmpetitions.
Anwyl said further details of the new age group – aimed at reducing a draft away from the game between Auskick and what would now be the next competition at under-11 – would be announced early in the new year.
The structure is based on a Riddell District junior model, which features three clusters based in Melton, Gisborne and Sunbury, each played at the one venue on a Wednesday night.