Merrett, who started at Cobden and was drafted to Bomberland with pick 31 in 2011, played 56 games at Essendon in a seven-year stint.

The switch put hopes of a possible return to the Hampden league this coming season to bed.

East Point president Garry Wilson said the club was thrilled to add the 28-year-old to the squad and revealed Merrett would also join the coaching staff.

"Through mutual acquaintances, we got win that Jackson was moving to Ballarat, so we've worked pretty hard to see if we could make it work and we're thrilled to have secured him," Wilson told The Courier.

Merrett also played 73 VFL games for 63 goals and managed 44 games with Peel in the WAFL, winning the club's best and fairest in 2020 and making the league team of the year.

Wilson said while the Kangaroos had been strong the past few seasons, there was always room for improvement, but next year the club hoped to be able to promote more of the young players.

"You've always got to keep improving, and particularly in a league like the BFNL, it's just getting stronger and stronger," he said.

"A lot of players see all the work that has gone into the facilities and grounds around Ballarat and want to be a part of it.

"As a club, we've got a very strong under 19s who went through this season undefeated, so we're keen to promote them further."

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