Coolamon have strengthened their key position stocks with the signing of Jack Baker from Canberra Demons.
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Baker has spent the past five seasons playing in Canberra and will join Nick Pleming in travelling to Coolamon each week.
Baker will slot into centre-half-back at the Hoppers once he has recovered from a knee reconstruction. He underwent surgery last May and hopes to debut for Coolamon mid-season.
“I’m really excited by it,” Baker said.
“Nick’s going out there and he’s a mate of mine. I’ve played the last couple of years with him.
“I’ve heard good things about Coolamon and I’m really excited by country footy. It will be a new experience.”
Baker stands at about 191cm tall and has played the majority of his career in defence.
The 23-year-old grew up in Pambula and moved to Belconnen in 2013, before spending the last couple of seasons with Canberra Demons.
His 2017 season was brought undone early with a knee injury, but Baker is looking forward to getting back on the paddock.
“I’m hoping to be back before the midway point of the season. That’s the aim,” he said.
“I’ll play it as it comes.”
Coolamon coach Connor Neyland is pleased to welcome another quality recruit on board.
“Very happy to have another good taller bloke that has played at NEAFL level,” Neyland said.
“He’ll play at centre-half-back and we’ll sort something out until he comes back.”
Coolamon begin pre-season training on Tuesday night, January 23.
They will enter the new-season without Tiwi Island recruits Roy Kantilla and Jack Munkara.
The club was hopeful at least one of the pair would return but Munkara has been signed by Northern Territory (NT) Thunder.
The Hoppers remain in a strong position after welcoming Neyland, Pleming, Baker and Max Hillier on board over the off-season.
They have lost Kantilla, Munkara, Ryan Chamberlain (retirement) and Nick Curran (East Wagga-Kooringal).