From the age of 7-15 the left-footer honed his skills at Victoria Park in Kew, playing 115 games in what was a decorated junior career.
Billings played in three premierships (2006,07 & 08) and won three best and fairest awards while at Kew.
And having moved on to AFL ranks, the 18-year-old was all too happy to return to his roots and lend a hand at training as part of NAB’s Rising Star initiative into grassroots footy.
“It’s great to be back here and seeing all the young kids run around,” Billings said prior to helping out.
“Off the back of Jack’s Rising Star nomination, the club receives ten Sherrins, ten drink bottles [and] a defibrillator… As well as a ball bag,” NAB Regional Executive Peter Rice told SAINTS.com.au.
Billings hosted a number of question and answer sessions with the various teams, before mingling with the kids as they went about their training.
“I’ve known Jack for a long time and have watched him play since he was nine years old in the under 10s,” Chatfield said.
“He was a terrific junior player. His hands were fantastic and he used to float across packs and take these beautiful marks. He was one of the best kicks I’ve ever seen.”
After debuting as the sub in round one, Billings has found his niche as a clever half forward this year, booting 13 goals in 15 games and winning the NAB Rising Star Award for his 25-possession performance against West Coast in Round 14.
And having moved on to AFL ranks, the 18-year-old was all too happy to return to his roots and lend a hand at training as part of NAB’s Rising Star initiative into grassroots footy.
“It’s great to be back here and seeing all the young kids run around,” Billings said prior to helping out.
RELATED: Billings a star on the rise
And the boys and girls weren’t just excited to see Billings, with the Kew Comets also receiving $2,500 worth of equipment and apparel courtesy of NAB.“Off the back of Jack’s Rising Star nomination, the club receives ten Sherrins, ten drink bottles [and] a defibrillator… As well as a ball bag,” NAB Regional Executive Peter Rice told SAINTS.com.au.
Billings hosted a number of question and answer sessions with the various teams, before mingling with the kids as they went about their training.
VIDEO: Billings gets a phone call from Montagna
Adam Chatfield, who coached Billings as a junior and played one game for Carlton in 2000 before spending time on Geelong’s list, remembers the No.3 draft pick as a junior as if it was yesterday.“I’ve known Jack for a long time and have watched him play since he was nine years old in the under 10s,” Chatfield said.
“He was a terrific junior player. His hands were fantastic and he used to float across packs and take these beautiful marks. He was one of the best kicks I’ve ever seen.”
After debuting as the sub in round one, Billings has found his niche as a clever half forward this year, booting 13 goals in 15 games and winning the NAB Rising Star Award for his 25-possession performance against West Coast in Round 14.
Remarkably, Billings' disposal efficiency was 100 per cent in this match.
RELATED: Billings' nomination bodes well
He is the second first-year Saint to be rewarded in this manner in 2014, following Luke Dunstan’s nomination in the opening round of the season.
