Adrian Bromage says Bairnsdale may now be a backwater when it comes to the most powerful football teams in Gippsland, but its best juniors are right up there with any in the state. On the eve of the new East Gippsland season next weekend, Bromage says his club's concentration on its elite teenagers has fuelled their winning ways and triggered six flags in the last nine years since its "downgrade" from the premier La Trobe Valley to the East Gippsland league.
"It is disappointing to drop out of major league football," he said. "A lot of our elite juniors are drawn to Sale or Maffra where there is probably more recognition and support for them to play the best footy they can. But the East Gippy league is still the strongest of the local leagues.
"And we're hoping to have four or five direct from the area playing regularly this year with Gippsland Power. It's very exciting for us all involved in east Gippsland football. We love to see the kids advance."
One particular national draft prospect from Bairnsdale is 16-year-old David Donchi who Bromage, a former Sandover Medallist, believes has "a huge future".
"He's got a natural ball winning ability you rarely see," he said.
"He has a few things to pick up on, but he has really shone in our scratch matches. He's at the bottom age for the Power squad but we'd love to think he could play most of the season there."
Bromage, 36, has led Bairnsdale to the last two EGFL flags. The team has won 21 games in a row since the preliminary final of 2006.
A former champion centreman, he still dabbles in the midfield, but is happy to play no more than a dozen or so home and away games, plus finals.
"I like to play when it really matters," he says,
"I'd snapped my achilles in the 2001 Grand Final and thought that was enough, and it was for awhile especially with my work responsibilities. Now I like to play a few halves and occasionally three quarters building up into the finals."
| An Australia-wide holiday took him and wife Rachel to Perth where he
lobbed in at East Fremantle and became part of one of the most
professional teams outside the AFL. "Rachel and I had intended to be there only for a year while we were travelling around. But we loved the (Perth) lifestyle and the loved the football club so much we ended up staying for three. "The system there for the juniors at East Freo is fantastic. From the age of 15 and 16 they are doing up to nine sessions a week. You can't help but improve." In 1997 the emerging youngsters he flanked included Simon Black, a young Ben Cousins, Shane Woewodin, the Carr brothers (Josh and Matthew) and Phil Reid. He won the Sandover Medal in 1998 and the Simpson Medal, too, for being best afield in East Freo's winning Grand Final side, before taking a year off for more travel. |
 |
In 2000 he was assistant coach and best and fairest in an undefeated premiership team. In 2001 Bairnsdale won another flag, being beaten only once all year.
Asked his strengths as a coach, he says he offers "a bit of extra professionalism" gleaned from his time away.
"East Fremantle may not have been quite at the top level, but WAFL is pretty full on and few clubs produce more players for the draft each year," he said.
"Hopefully I have brought back some of the good habits with me.
"We've got some magnificent juniors coming through and it's very rewarding to help teach them before they go on to the next step.
"(Gippsland) Power has been a great stepping stone for them -- though there is a lot of travel involved (to Morwell and back) for the best kids from this and surrounding towns."
The EGFL season starts on April 12 with Bairnsdale playing Orbost-Snowy Rovers.
Among his team's likely stars are assistant coach Luke Moresi, who has won five or six club best and fairests at Bairnsdale, captain James Gibbs, key ruckman Robert Soulsby and old stager David Preston, now 37, and still sticky-fingered at full forward.
"Dave has been here a long time and like me doesn't play every week. But we like it when the big matches are on and when the finals approach. That's the time to stand up."
By Ken Piesse
Article first appeared: The Sunday Hearld Sun April 6th, 2008
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|