GEELONG champion Jimmy Bartel will join Greater Western Sydney as football director ahead of 2019.
The triple-premiership player will add much-needed football experience to the Giants' board, lured to join the club thanks largely to his long-standing relationship with CEO David Matthews.
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Bartel will act as a conduit between the football department and board – drawing on his playing, media and recruiting experience – having consulted for Brisbane's recruiting team in 2018.
The 2007 Brownlow medallist will remain based in Melbourne and continue in his various media roles into next year, including AFL.com.au's Access All Areas.
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Current director Peter Taylor – a former president of the Belconnen Football Club in Canberra – is the only member of the club's board with football experience.
Bartel's appointment makes him the third current club football director to have won a Brownlow Medal after Chris Judd (Carlton) and Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide).
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Other recently retired players on club boards include Glenn Archer (North Melbourne), Paul Licuria (Collingwood) and Sean Wellman (Essendon).
