Former goalkeeper thrives in switch to gridiron

A CODE switch has paid huge dividends for Bendigo Dragons gridiron player Felix Matheson.

The 17-year-old from Castlemaine has absolutely thrived since trading his soccer goalkeeper gloves for gridiron pads and a helmet last year.

Matheson capped a stellar first season in the Gridiron Victoria competition, which culminated in a division two grand final appearance by the Dragons in December, by not only winning his club’s rookie of the year award, but also the league’s.

 

It earned the humble year 12 student a spot in the Victorian under-18 team to play a three-game series against Queensland in April.

Thrown into the deep end against grown men and seasoned veterans, the fast-emerging offensive lineman did not just hold his own, but proved a nightmare for opposition defensive linemen.

The Dragons ascension to the championship game and the success of their veteran quarterback Devon LeSure were intricately tied to the strength of Matheson and his mates on the O-line.

Matheson admits to being completely blindsided by his league rookie of the year win and subsequent state selection. “It was completely unexpected. I didn’t think any of this would be on the table,” he said.

“Considering it was my first year of gridiron, I really didn’t know what to expect.”

 

After 10 seasons of soccer in Castlemaine, Matheson, who stands at 6’3″ (192cm), had literally ‘outgrown’ his former sport.

“I was getting a bit big for goalkeeping and there’s not much rugby down in Victoria, so I had a quick Google search and came across the Bendigo Dragons,” Matheson said.

“I went to one of the trainings and the rest is history.”

There was nothing in Matheson’s sporting past that could have prepared him for the transition to gridiron.

“It was definitely different to say the least … it (gridiron) is a much more enclosed space and everything got immediately tighter,” Matheson said.

“But there was a rush of excitement and the adrenaline hits you.

“Having added some height and some inches, you realise anything is possible in the game now.

“It’s a great change from playing goal keeper … a lot more physical and a lot more determining.

“You can sit in goals in soccer and nothing comes to you, but compared to when you are on the offensive line, you have someone always running at you, trying to get to your quarterback.”

“It’s a lot more physically demanding.”

The only downside for Matheson in his first season was the Dragons not being able to capture the championship, beaten 24-6 in the title game by Northern Chargers.

Any disappointment was quick to fade when he attended the NFL-sanctioned national Scouting Combine in Naples, Florida, in early January.

The nation’s second-largest pro football combine, it provides draft-eligible athletes and free agents opportunities to showcase skills for scouts through verified mental and physical testing and a seven-on-seven showcase.

Matheson, a year 12 student at Castlemaine Secondary College, described the experience of going through testing and scrimmaging against draft hopefuls as ‘unbelievable’, saying it had fueled an ambition of playing college football in the US.

“It was a bit tricky with most of the guys there being 23, 24, 25-year-olds, who have just finished college, and have been playing a lot longer,” he said.

“Obviously, they were a lot more developed and have been playing longer.

“Aside from that, I thought I held my own pretty well against them.

“It was a great learning experience.”

Bendigo Dragons Gridiron Club president Steve Bradshaw hailed Matheson’s ‘huge achievements’ as a reflection of the hard work, discipline and determination he showed all season.

“To represent your state is something every young athlete dreams of, and he has absolutely earned this opportunity after playing in the seniors competition as a 17 year old,” Bradshaw said.

“To be recognised not just at club level, but across the entire division two competition shows the impact he made in his first year.

“Attending the NFL Scouting Combine in the United States earlier this year was another incredible milestone.

“Competing and testing in an international environment takes courage and commitment.

“It’s an experience that has no doubt helped shape him into the player he is today.

“His work ethic, coachability and competitive mindset set him apart, and those qualities have clearly been noticed at the state level as well.

“Felix’s journey is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through dedication and belief.

“The future is extremely bright, and everyone at the Bendigo Dragons couldn’t be prouder of what he has accomplished so far.”