COUNTRY boys moving to the big smoke for study has proved a bountiful recruiting ground for Winchelsea, which has welcomed 10 footballers on the eve of the season.<\/p>\n
A host of new players arrived at the club from Waurn Ponds’ Marcus Oldham College and Deakin University ahead of the opening bounce of 2022, continuing a well-trodden pathway from the institutions to Winch.<\/p>\n
The club has strengthened its relationships with the schools and its students in recent years to ensure a steady influx of players to Eastern Reserve to boost player numbers, as regional clubs faced increasing difficulty to field two senior sides each weekend.<\/p>\n
Players from interstate as far as Western Australia and elsewhere in Victoria have made the shift to the Blues for a kick after moving to Geelong for their studies.<\/p>\n
Winchelsea president Daniel Greskie said the club’s connection with the school had only become more important this year, after a number of local footballers decided to step away from the sport following two years of COVID disruptions.<\/p>\n
“We’ve had a connection with Marcus Oldham for a few years where the boys come across,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It’s been happening for five or six years. The guys come to school and the closest country club is Winch.<\/p>\n
“(The players) are a perfect fit for us. Most of them come from country footy clubs and country towns, so they mix in with our boys that are like-minded.<\/p>\n
“They fit in really well and match our age demographic.”<\/p>\n
Greskie said the club was in a strong position for player numbers early in the season, with a surplus of players to pick from on its current list.<\/p>\n
He said the Blues would continue working to retain and boost numbers, especially during holidays later in the year when students return to their home towns.<\/p>\n
New recruits have brought a mixed bag of results to start the 2022 season; the Blues earned a round one win against Anakie but suffered a heavy defeat to Geelong West under lights in round two.<\/p>\n
Winchelsea’s footballers return to the field this weekend away to Corio, against a Devils side seeking its first win of the season.<\/p>\n
Inverleigh and Bannockburn face off in a clash of league heavyweights on Anzac Day to headline round three of the season.<\/p>\n
In Saturday’s GDFL fixtures, East Geelong will aim to continue its hot start against North Geelong, Thomson hosts Belmont, Bell Post Hill plays Werribee, while Geelong West welcomes Anakie for a twilight fixture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
COUNTRY boys moving to the big smoke for study has proved a bountiful recruiting ground for Winchelsea, which has welcomed 10 footballers on the eve of the season. A host of new players arrived at the club from Waurn Ponds’ Marcus Oldham College and Deakin University ahead of the opening bounce of 2022, continuing a […]<\/p>\n