Jye Menzie grew up playing footy on the streets and green spaces of Bridgewater, and now he’s captain of the Tasmania Devils VFL team, training on the very ground where it all began for him.

Jye played junior football at Brighton before being drafted to Essendon from North Hobart Football Club. After being delisted by the Bombers last year, he moved back to the area. He’s since stepped into the VFL captaincy and now balances football with teaching at Guilford Young College in Glenorchy.

Jye is proud of where he comes from, and says his upbringing in Bridgewater, Gagebrook and Herdsman’s Cove only made him work harder to reach his goals. This season alone he’s averaging 22 disposals, six tackles and five marks, and has kicked 15 goals across 11 games as an attacking midfielder.

The Devils’ ties to the area go beyond one player. Coach Jeromey Webberley is from the region, along with listed players Darcy Gardiner and Will Splann. The club plans to keep training at Pontville Oval until its new facility at Kingston is ready in the future.

Brighton Mayor Leigh Gray, who also grew up in Bridgewater, says having elite footballers train locally sends a strong message to local kids that they can enjoy sport and strive to do well too.

“Brighton Council and our local community are proud to be able to support the Tassie Devils with facilities to train. We are also proud that so many people within the Club, both players and administration, are from the Brighton community, Mayor Gray said. “As a council, we recognise the importance of sporting facilities and opportunities for our young people, and we have plans to keep investing in the coming years. We look forward to being part of the exciting journey ahead for the Devils.”

For Jye, the hope is that his story, from backyard footy in Bridgewater to VFL captain, shows local kids that big dreams are within reach, whatever path they choose.