Bell Post Hill has put the final piece of its 2025 recruiting puzzle in place with the surprise addition of two-time Bellarine leading goalkicker Scott Hughes.
Hughes, who topped the ton with the Tigers in 2012 and 2013, most recently played with Modewarre before announcing his retirement after Round 3 last year.
However, coach Ash Witney has played down the Panthers’ expectations of the 33-year-old.
“We’re not expecting (Hughes) to come here and kick 80 goals,” Witney said.
“It’s not about that. It’s just about giving us a bit of a contest deep forward and letting the small blokes go to work after that.”
Witney says former Panther was key to Hughes’ decision to pull the boots on again at Myers Reserve.
“It was a bit of a chance one,” Witney said.
“It was Daniel Farrar first. He sent ‘Tarry’ (former coach Justin Tarr) a message, actually, and just said, look, Scott Hughes is looking to maybe get back and play some footy.
“He spoke very highly of him. He flicked over his number and just went from there.
“So it all happened pretty quick, to be honest.”
The arrival of Hughes brings to 14 the number of recruits announced by Bell Post Hill, including returning veterans Caleb Baceley, Tim Barton, Nick Costello, and Dylan Witney from Great Western.
‘Dyl’ and ‘Cubby’ (Bacely), ‘Timmy’ and ‘Cossie’ (Costello), they’re at the end of their career, but they’re probably still got one or two years left in them,” Witney said.
“Having those guys around these young kids, especially Cody (Chircop), Joshie Norman, Lachie Wilson… is just going to help them excel a lot quicker.”
Bell Post Hill, which finished ninth with six wins in 2024, will play practice matches against St. Arnaud and Roxburgh Park before opening its 2025 campaign on April 5, hosting Werribee Centrals.
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