Michaela Meade
Former AFL player Jake Carlisle will return to his roots in 2022, having signed on with Craigieburn.
Carlisle started his football journey with the Eagles, and played with the Calder Cannons.
In 2009, he was drafted at pick 24 for Essendon, and went on to play 85 games between 2010 and 2015 for the club.
Carlisle moved to St Kilda in 2016, playing a total of 66 games with the side until retiring earlier this year.
Carlisle experienced recent long-term back injuries, which limited his playing time this year.
He now returns to grassroots football, taking up a position in developing the Eagles’ junior players, and mentoring players and coaches.
The Eagles announced the addition in a post to their Facebook page, and said Carlisle fits in well with the group and would be an on-field asset in due time.
“Whilst he has fulfilled his AFL career, it feels like he has always been around the club forever,” the post said.
“Jake has aspirations to return to the field in the near future.
“But after a long time in the game, he is keen to rest his body and spend some quality time with his young family.
“He has been in touch with the players group on a regular basis.
“He now returns to the club so that he can get involved in developing our juniors as well as mentoring our players [and] coaches.”
Carlisle will be working alongside incoming senior coach Justin Sherman and the coaching panel.
