SWANS GET THEIR MAN
FORMER Gold Coast Suns rookie Louis Herbert hasn’t given up hope of receiving an AFL lifeline.
The 23-year-old has signed at South Barwon for the coming season after spending the past two years on North Ballarat’s VFL list.
With his former club now defunct, Herbert has turned his attention towards finishing his sports management degree.
But a return to stateleague footy also remains on the cards.
“I always thought I’d continue playing VFL, but my decision to come back and play local footy was due to the fact I’m going into my last year of uni and I really want to focus on that,” he said.
“Potentially after I get my degree, (I’ll) go back and play VFL. That’s the way I’m thinking at the moment.
“Hopefully I’ll have a really good year with South Barwon and keep my form up.”
The former North Ballarat Rebels under-18 was drafted to the Suns with pick four of the 2014 rookie draft and managed three AFL games in his two years on their list.
He never got to play with his then-captain Gary Ablett, who ironically opened the door for Herbert to debut. “I didn’t actually get to play any footy with him, because when he did his shoulder I got upgraded,” Herbert recalled.
“I was going to give him (Ablett) a text when I moved down to hopefully go out for a coffee or something.”
Herbert said he would relish a leadership opportunity at the club, but was yet to sit down with new coach David Farrell to settle on a positional role. “Louis has been exposed to TAC, VFL and AFL programs in recent years so brings in a heap of experience which will fasttrack the development of our younger players,” Farrell said.
Herbert was one of seven recruits revealed by the club last night.
Fellow North Ballarat player Ben Lusby, Ollie Lee (Warrnambool) and ex-Geelong Falcons Lachie Noble, Charlie Francis and Rick Read have signed at South Barwon, while the club has also secured Mitch Rodd who has penned a deal with North Melbourne in the VFL.