Young’s bid to return to finals footy in 2019 has received a huge boost with the signing of 2018 Bathurst Panthers Group 10 premiership winner and Cherrypickers junior Blake Hewitt.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hewitt returns to the Cherry Capital after six years playing in Canberra, England and last year with Group 10 premiers Bathurst Panthers.
After working his way through the junior ranks in Young, he started playing seniors as a 16-year-old before linking with Canberra Cup side Queanbeyan Blues in 2013.
READ ALSO: Australia Day ambassador announced
He played three seasons with Gouburn then signed with Bathurst Panthers.
The 28-year-old said he’s keen to play under Young Cherryickers 2019 coach Roy Jewitt, who coached Hewitt in Riverina junior representative sides.
“Roy coached me in junior rep sides and I really like his style of coaching. And I still have some mates playing there. I’m looking forward to seeing how we go,” Hewitt said.
“It was great to win [at Bathurst] last year, especially after missing out three years straight. At Canberra I got beat three years in a row in extra-time in grand finals.
READ ALSO: Young league-tag carnival changes format
“It’d be great to win a comp with my junior club.”
Pickers coach Roy Jewitt labelled it a “massive” signing. He said Hewitt’s versatility and premiership winning experience will be hugely valuable in their bid to return to finals footy in 2019.
“He’s a great player,” Roy Jewitt said.
“I’ve always said we didn’t need much. They had a strong side last year, just a few things didn’t go their way. We didn’t need a lot, we’ve brought in quality and it’s looking really promising.”
Young has also announced the signings of former juniors Sam Langford and Jake Hogan.
“I’m really excited to see how far this team can go,” Jewitt said.
Group Nine pre-season nines
Young coach Roy Jewitt says he’ll take the best suited team to Group Nine’s new pre-season competition.
Young faces a tough hit-out in the new event in Cootamundra on March 16.
The Cherrypickers have been drawn to play Gundagai, Cootamundra and Albury.
All three sides finished above the ninth-placed Pickers last season.
The competition, which is compulsory for Group Nine clubs, is likely to be the final run around for most teams ahead of Group Nine’s regular season round on April 6-7.
