KILMORE Football Club is looming as one of the Riddell District Football League’s major improvers in 2010, with star midfielder Matt Robertson committing to the club last week.
A triple best and fairest winner at Kilmore, Robertson departed the Blues in blistering form midway through the 2008 season, joining Murray Football League side Tocumwal.
The 26-year-old was a key player in Tocumwal’s 2009 premiership win over Moama, kicking three goals in the six-point victory. The former Blues’ captain kicked 42 goals from 20 matches last season.
Robertson is a strongly built midfielder that has the ability to push forward and kick bags of goals. He will be a welcome addition to the talented list coach Guy Booker is building.
Robertson’s signing comes barely a week after the club secured former AFL player Aaron James.
The Blues were recently successful in re-registering James to the RDFL, after he was de-registered in 2006 following a 16-match suspension.
The 33-year-old spearhead topped country Victoria’s goalkicking list last season, booting 130 goals from 16 matches with North Bendigo.
The additions of Robertson and James are set to significantly buoy the Blues who missed the finals last season.
The recruits will also provide a wealth of experience for a number of talented youngsters that the club has coming through
the ranks.
“We’ve still got the young guys coming through, but its great to have the older, more experienced blokes there as well to help them along,” playing-coach Booker said at training last week.
The Blues have also signed utility Shaun Garland, a former team mate of Booker’s when he was at Whittlesea.
Booker described Garland, 26, as a “versatile” player who could hold down either centre-half-forward or centre-half-back.
Garland spent two years at the Eagles alongside Booker, before lining-up with Epping in the Northern Football League division two competition last season.
The club also officially revealed reserves coach Paul Lewis.
Lewis, who will also be an assistant senior coach, said he was unsure whether he would play in 2010, but he is looking forward to imparting his knowledge on the younger players.
“I’m just looking forward to hopefully getting through the pre-season at this stage and we will see how we go from there. I’ll be mainly focused on a coaching role next season and I’m really looking forward to it,” Lewis said.
T
he 34-year-old was drafted from the Murray Bushrangers to Geelong in 1993 with pick 30, and played with Booker in the Ovens and Murray League in 2000. He also played for Perth Football Club in the Western Australian Football League.
Lewis plays in the midfield and can rotate between half forward and half back.
Booker said that at the early stages of the pre-season there had been positive signs for the club, with over 25 players attending last Wednesday’s session.
“Things are progressing well. We’ve had good numbers so far with over 60 different players attending. We’ve also got the gym set up now so the blokes are getting bigger and stronger,” Booker said.
The Blues will continue pre-season training on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6pm until the Christmas break.
The club’s annual general meeting will be held on Monday, December 14, at 7pm at the social club rooms.
