North Warrnambool Eagles sign former AFL footballer Billie Smedts for 2019 Hampden league season

The former Carlton and Geelong utility has signed with the Hampden league club after eight seasons away.

Smedts, 26, said a sense of loyalty attracted him back to Bushfield Recreation Reserve after 47 games at the top level and a season at Geelong league club Leopold.

“I always said when I first got drafted that I’d come back and play a few years with North Warrnambool,” the 2010 number 15 draft pick said.

“It’s probably happened sooner than I thought. I thought I’d probably play up in the GFL a couple more years but the time was right to come back to North.

“I am really excited and happy with the decision.”

Smedts, who is unsure if he will relocate to Warrnambool or commute from Geelong, said he was excited to develop the Eagles’ younger players.

He said he wanted to bring excitement and enthusiasm to the club as it embarks on a new era under six-time Hampden league premiership coach Adam Dowie.

“I played AFL for seven years so hopefully I can bring back a fair bit of experience and knowledge to help the young boys,” Smedts said.

The 190-centimetre Smedts said he would do “what is best for team balance each week”.

“I was the forward line coach at Leopold this year so I played full-forward most of the year but I think next year I am looking to come back as a bit of a utility,” he said.

“It looks like over the last couple of years some good quality footballers have gone back to the Hampden league, so it looks like it’s starting to strengthen up again.

“I am excited for the challenge in 2019, coming up against some strong sides.”

Smedts is recovering from a freak injury sustained in Leopold’s preliminary final loss. He was on crutches for two weeks after he cracked his knee cap and broke his lower femur but stressed his ligaments were “good as gold”. The injury is not expected to delay Smedts’ pre-season start.