Just one short summer after playing in Swan Hill Football Club's rousing 2011 finals campaign -- resulting in a premiership -- Kiel will realise an ambition to compete at a higher level.

About 12 months ago, Kiel, along with Jarrod Halligan and Coleman Anderson, decided to take on some training regimes outside of the football club in a bid to realise a goal to improve their fitness.

There to help them with the challenge was Barry McIntyre, with boxing being prominent among the cross-training methods.

A progam started and was maintained throughout the season, with Kiel committing to training at the gym before and after work.

The committment paid handsome dividends for Kiel who, already a Swans premiership player in 2008, was a part of his second senior premiership and named among Swan Hill's best.

Kiel said he was excited to have signed with the VFL club and was looking forward to the season starting.

"I just want to put in the hard work and hopefully cement a spot in the senior XVIII," he said.