The 23-year-old has re-committed to the club after spending much of the preseason with Glenelg and said he was excited about the Saints’ prospects.

“I reckon we’ll have a great year,” Coombes said yesterday.

“The improvement from two years ago to last year was phenomenal.

“Everyone is that bit older and more experienced.

“There’s been great progression and that will continue.

“I’m pretty confident ... I don’t want to jinx us or anything ... but we will be aiming for finals.”

Melbourne-based Coombes booted 34 goals in 16 games last year and will be an unexpected bonus for the Saints ahead of their round 1 clash against Wangaratta Rovers at McNamara Reserve on Sunday, April 8.

New Myrtleford president Bill O’Donohue said the club was delighted to secure Coombes, who was one of a number of key players to re-sign last year before trying his luck in South Australia.

“It’s great news for us,” O’Donohue said.

“To have a player of that calibre come back is great.

“He would have been missed pretty badly so to have him back is fantastic.”

Former Box Hill and Norwood player Coombes said he abandoned plans to play for the Tigers because he was homesick.

“Melbourne is where home is,” he said.

“I was just training there (at Glenelg).

“It’s like another full-time job.

“You are there every night for training and weights. It’s full-on.

“They are great people at Myrtleford and that’s always where I’d go.”

Meanwhile, Myrtleford has had a clearance for former Adelaide utility Aaron Kite knocked back from Essendon and District outfit Glenroy.

The Saints said they are “working through the process and are hoping to come to an amicable solution”.