Ben Bath ‒ who played a key role in Euroa’s run to the 2022 GVL grand final ‒ was awarded a contract by North Melbourne’s VFL side last week, tying him to Arden Street for the upcoming season.
Joining the Kangaroos as a training partner in November, Bath lit up the track at Arden Street during the summer, prompting the coaching staff to add him to the VFL squad as a full-time player.
The athletic utility joins a pair of GVL products at the club in newly anointed AFL skipper Jy Simpkin (Mooroopna) and fresh-faced rookie Brayden George (Tatura).
Bath will not return to his hometown Magpies in 2023, having listed Essendon District League outfit Greenvale as his home club after making the move to Melbourne.
An exciting step forward in his football journey, Bath said he could not be more thrilled to be donning the blue and white.
“Obviously I am very excited, I put in a fair amount of work over the off-season and pre-season, so it made it all feel like it was worth it in a way,” Bath said.
“Around early November last year was when I was first asked to come and train with the club, and from there I was down there three days a week training with the boys and I built a bond with the group.
“Initially I didn’t have too many expectations, but once the training started I got more and more comfortable and by the end really felt like I belonged.
“I can’t wait to keep going with this group now and start wearing the Kangaroos jumper.”
Since making his senior debut for Euroa in 2021, Bath quickly made a name for himself as one of the GVL’s most exciting young talents.
Blessed with the ability to play a number of roles, Magpies coach Scott Rowan utilised his athleticism across the ground in 2022, where he averaged 11 disposals and 4.2 marks a game.
Bath said the experience of playing senior footy at Euroa from an early age had him perfectly poised to attack the next phase of his career.
“Euroa has been very important for me, they put me into the senior side very early on and I took a lot from that,” he said.
“Getting a good crack against fully-grown men has definitely fast-tracked my development and giving me confidence that I can go into this VFL environment and play on guys that are older and bigger than me.”
Season 2023 will mark Bath’s first foray into VFL football.
With a wealth of senior football experience under his belt, he said he was excited to test himself at the higher level and hopefully progress his game to the top level.
“I am a little bit nervous about the step up, but at the same time I am really looking forward to getting stuck in and seeing if I’ve got what it takes,” he said.
“At the moment I would love to get a game or two under the belt and just get my foot in the door.
“The dream is still to make it to the AFL and I will be working as hard as I can to make that a reality, but if that doesn’t come playing VFL footy at the highest level I can will be brilliant.”
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