Millicent’s Bendigo Bank Western Border Football League premiership defence has received a significant shot in the arm after the exciting announcement one of the club’s favourite sons is coming back home.

After spending two years with the Greater Western Sydney Giants inside the AFL system, star midfielder Tom Hutchesson will pull on the Saints jumper once again in the 2022 WBFL season.

The news is a tremendous boost not just for everyone at McLaughlin Park, but the entire Limestone Coast sporting community and the 26-year-old is excited to complete his homecoming at the first session of preseason tonight.

“Millicent is a very young and exciting team, so I cannot wait to get stuck into the season,” Hutchesson said.

“I am really keen to work with all the young talent we have at Millicent, play some good footy and hopefully we can repeat what we did last year.”

Hutchesson was drafted at pick in the 2019 and achieved his lifelong dream of making his AFL debut in a unique Sydney Derby at Perth Stadium in round 12 last year.

Sadly, a barren run of hamstring injuries prevented the Millicent midfielder from progressing his AFL career and was delisted at the end of the 2021 season.

When he returned home last month, Hutchesson revealed to the SE Voice he had “a few different opportunities” on the table but always knew his heart was set on returning home.

“I had a few phone calls and inquiries, but Millicent is pretty close to my heart because I played all of my juniors there and won a flag in 2018,” he said.

“Most of my friends are there too, so it was sort of a no-brainer for me coming back to the Saints.”

Despite living more than a thousand kilometers away, Hutchesson always tried to stay close to the club of his youth and followed the premiership with interest.

“I was calling the coach Clint (Gallio) every few weeks to see how the young ones were going and how the team was playing,” he said.

“I was keen to know who was stepping up each week and by the end of the year all of the young boys were stepping up, so there was no weak link in the chain.”

Having heard a lot about these young stars over the phone, one of things Hutchesson is looking forward to the most is nurturing new names such as Jaxon Cushion and Eli Redman in his role as assistant coach.

“Some of the young ones at the club might listen to a few things I am going to say and show them the stuff you have to do to get the highest level,” he said.

“I am excited to get stuck into preseason and share some of the knowledge I have picked up in the last few years and see where it takes us.”

Most importantly the football giant is entering tonight’s preseason opening in good shape after his hamstrings destroyed any hope of progressing his AFL career.

“At the moment there are no issues and my body feels fit and good,” Hutchesson said.

“Hopefully I can get through the year unscathed, but there are no issues at this stage so fingers crossed we have a full season ahead.”

Premiership coach Clint Gallio was also full of excitement after the announcement.

“It is pretty cool for the club for Tom to sign on as the assistant coach,” he said.

“He played all of his juniors here and went away to have a crack at AFL which did not quite work out and that is football, but we are super excited to have him back on board.”

Since lifting the WBFL premiership cup together in 2018, Hutchesson and Gallio have remained close mates keeping in touch regularly.

Despite the possibility of hunting down the star player’s signature after he was delisted, Gallio understood the situation and was in no rush to commence discussions about his future.

“Obviously it was disappointing to hear he was delisted so I was just there as a mate and we (Millicent) did not put any pressure on him,” Gallio said.

“But down the track a month or two after we had some good chats with him where he showed some interest.

“We gave him some breathing space because he would have had offers from lots of different clubs, but he showed some loyalty to come back to the Saints.”

The thought of Hutchesson rejoining a midfield group already loaded with speed, talent and a premiership is a scary one for the rest of the competition.

Gallio admitted leaving someone out of the centre square could be one of the hardest calls he has to make ahead of round 1.

“It is probably a scary thought for the opposition because I am sure he improved his footy since he left,” he said.

“He is one of the best footballers I have ever played with and what he can produce from his explosiveness is unbelievable.

“It is a good decision to make because we have made some good chemistry in the midfield, so he might have to start in the forward pocket.”

Although the biggest move of the 2021-22 preseason so far directly benefits the Saints, Gallio sees the bigger picture believing a player of Hutchesson’s standard will do great things for the reputation of the game in the Limestone Coast.

“It is always good to have blokes who have been away playing SANFL or AFL back into the league,” he said.

“There are a lot of young kids around the community who probably followed his journey and look up to him.

“So it is definitely good for our club to have him back, but it is even better for the region.”

Fans and players can see Hutchesson’s return to the Saints at McLaughlin Park from 6pm tonight.