Jaydon Stiles arrived in Gunnedah in June with his younger brother, a reputation as a country Victoria AFL gun and the swagger of a goalkicking whiz.
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Lured to the town by then Bulldogs coach Doug Meagher, after COVID scuppered his plan to captain-coach the Macorna Tigers, Stiles's time in the North West was expected to be exciting but brief.
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However, that will not be the case - with the 26-year-old confirming he will remain at the Bulldogs next year despite saying his phone "has not stopped ringing" with offers from other clubs.
That is great news for a Bulldogs side who are expected to lose a number of players from their 2020 undefeated, premiership-winning team.
Stiles booted eight goals, some of them typically spectacular, in a best-on-ground performance in the Bulldogs' grand final defeat of the Swans in September.
His 72 goals for the season was a competition best, and he finished second behind teammate and fellow Victorian, Josh Chiavaroli, in the Gillies Medal count.
Stiles's brother, Josh, has left town and Chiavaroli will depart in January, but Stiles will remain after commencing a relationship with Gunnedah women's player Erin Skewes.
Skewes was airlifted to hospital last season after suffering spinal injuries in a match. She made a full recovery.
Work was the main reason he decided to stay, but his relationship with Skewes was also a factor.
He has received a promotion at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club and is now a bartender-duty manager.
"I've been given an opportunity up here, and it's been good," he said.
Stiles said he "100 per cent" had expected to leave Gunnedah when the 2020 season ended.
"But, yeah, I guess with the way that Victoria is at the moment [with COVID] I decided to stay up here," he said, adding that while he believes footy will resume in Victoria next season, he expects it to be "impacted" financially due to the pandemic.
He continued: "I've really loved it here ... I've found myself a missus up here, so I'm saying."
Stiles said he "hasn't really" had a conversion with the club about replacing Meagher as coach next season, in what would be his coaching debut.
"I think I'll just enjoy playing up here," he said. "I don't think coaching will really be on he cards. Maybe. I'm not saying no: we'll just wait and see."
