NEWLYN has landed the biggest recruits in the Central Highlands Football League this summer – and two in the past week – to create the most decorated midfield in the competition.
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Dual Hawthorn AFL premiership player Brad Sewell will return home to play with brothers Adam and Myles, a triple Victorian Football League premiership player and VFL best and fairest.
Brad Sewell's signing comes in the same week the Cats’ secured former the Greater Western Sydney-listed Steve Clifton, who formed one of the VFL’s hardest working midfield combinations with Myles Sewell. Clifton is also a two-time JJ Liston medallist, as VFL best and fairest.
Clifton, aged 30, arrives from Ballarat Football League club Lake Wendouree, where he has played full-time the past three seasons.
Newlyn president Simon Dwyer said Clifton’s recruitment was big for the club.
“He is going to add tremendously to our team and to our midfield,” Dwyer said. “Something we tried to address is getting A-grade players into the team and he certainly fits the bill.”
Brad Sewell is locked in for at least three matches and is confirmed available for the Cats’ first home game of the season against Waubra in round two.
Dwyer was hopeful of getting a minimum of three matches out of the hard-nosed midfielder but understood the 34-year-old has a jam-packed broadcast schedule in the AFL.
Dwyer said it was uncertain what Sewell’s availability would be throughout the season, but was eager to fit him in whenever possible.
He said it was extremely exciting to have a player of Sewell’s ilk represent the club and he expected it would be a huge day on Newlyn’s calendar.
“I’m rapt that we can actually pull it all together, it should be a great day,” Dwyer said.
“It will just be exciting to have Brad back, joining his brothers in their first game together, we’re going to make it a big celebration.
“At a minimum, we’d look at three games, but a lot of that will depend on his media commitments.”
Sewell played juniors for the Cats, but it will be the first time he has played alongside his brothers.
This will also be Sewell’s debut for the Newlyn senior team given his junior career took him to higher levels of football as he played for the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup under-18 competition before he was drafted to Hawthorn as a rookie in 2003.
Dwyer said Sewell would look to attend at least one training session in the lead-up to the match – eager to join in the build-up and get around the group.