Ocean Grove big man Ed Dayman will return to Ocean Grove in 2025 despite lodging a clearance to Ovens and Murray club Wangaratta Rovers for the remainder of this season.
Sidelined with a syndesmosis injury suffered against Drysdale in Round 8, Dayman’s recovery time would have seen him cutting it fine to return for the Grubbers before the current season ended.
However, with the Ovens and Murray season running two weeks behind the Bellarine, it left the door open for him to return to his home club, coached by former Collingwood player Sam Murray.
Grubbers coach Dave Farrell says returning to Rovers, who were looking for cover for big man, ex-Bell Park and Geelong VFL-listed Will Christie, will allow Dayman to access the Magpies’ medical team.
“With Wang Rovers season rolling a couple of weeks longer than ours and them in the picture to play finals, we fully support Ed in pursuing the opportunity to play again in 2024 and would love to see him have some success back home,” Farrell said.
“Ed will continue to rehab and train with our senior group for the remainder of our season and has recommitted for season 2025.”
Rovers sit second on the Ovens and Murray ladder, one game behind the Steve Johnson-coached Yarrawonga.
Three games clear of fourth-placed Wangaratta, Rovers appear likely to start their finals campaign out of a qualifying final.
“(The way the seasons line up) gives me a little extra time to hopefully get the body right, to play football again this year and, fingers crossed, have some success with my home club,” Dayman said.
“I’m still very much committed to Ocean Grove and will be there to support them for the rest of the season while rehabbing and training, then plan to play a role again in 2025.”
Meanwhile, big man Kye Annand looks set to avoid surgery on a lacerated kidney suffered in the Round 11 win over Queenscliff.
The club says one laceration has repaired, and the other is improving.
In more good news, Geelong VFL-listed Annand, who returned to Ray Menzies Oval from Geelong West earlier in the season, has re-signed with the Grubbers.
“While sadly we won’t see Kye bounding around the ground again this season, we’re super excited to be able to announce he had no hesitation in committing again for 2025,” a statement on Facebook said.
X: @krockfootball
