Essendon's first pick in the 2015 AFL rookie draft and a big performer in the draft combine the same year is pulling on a Ballan jumper in the Central Highlands Football League next season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ballarat-based Gach Nyuon has agreed to line up with the Blues.
Ballan coach Tristan Batten said he was pleased to have secured Nyuon's signature ahead of other interested Central Highlands and Ballarat league clubs.
While the 22-year-old has played all his football in the Melbourne metropolitan area, he is not new to Ballarat.
The South Sudan-born Nyuon spent five years living in Ballarat after his family moved to Australia from Kenya when he was seven years-old.
They then moved back to the south-eastern suburbs, where Nyuon was part of the Dandenong Stingrays program in the TAC Cup and represented Vic Country in the national under-16 and under-18 championships.
Batten said he had picked up on the availability of Nyuon by word of mouth around the traps.
He said Nyuon was looking to play in a more relaxed atmosphere after spending time in AFL and VFL environments.
Batten said Ballan had a largely young player list and he was confident Nyuon would fit in well.
Essendon selected the 198cm Nyuon after his run leap and vertical leap were among the best at the AFL draft combine.
He spent one season with Essendon and then moved to Casey Scorpions for the 2017 VFL season.
Nyuon's next destination was Doveton in the Yarra Ranges league, before a mid-season move this year to Doveton Eagles in the Southern league.
Nyuon is Ballan's second siginificant signing to date.
The Blues have also recruited Colac and District Football League best and fairest Brent McLeod from Apollo Bay, which he coached for the past two seasons.
He is also a former SANFL and NEAFL team of the year member and Geelong District league best and fairest.