Lion quartet purring
Former Cats teammates find a happy new home
LEOPOLD probably did not need any extra help this season with star players such as Jai and Marcus Thompson already at the club.
The Lions also boasted the stingiest defence statistically in GFL history.
But over the off-season, 69 games of AFL experience fell into their lap after Tom Ruggles and Billie Smedts were forced out of the elite AFL world and landed at Leopold.
Already at the Lions were former Geelong teammates Nick Bourke and 2011 Cats premiership ruckman Trent West.
The four have formed a key as the Lions prepare for a second semi-final showdown with St Mary’s today at GMHBA Stadium.
“I already knew a few people at Leopold with my wife (Libby) playing netball there, so that was the main reason for me (arriving),” West said.
“In terms of Billie coming, it was more him having some good, close mates that he went to school with, so he knew most of the guys there better than I do. For Billie, it was an easy decision.”
Leopold did not have to work overtime to woo the former Geelong-listed players, with Ruggles and Bourke sharing close ties to the club.
Ruggles played the 2014 season with the club before heading to Geelong’s VFL side, while Bourke had bonds with players at the club, such as Brandon Howarth, Kevin Bourke and Lucas Boyd.
“I suppose all I can say is the way they’ve come back and the impact they’ve had in a coaching and playing role has been amazing,” West said of Ruggles and Smedts.
“Going out of their way to help the younger kids and doing a great job has been awesome for the club.”
West believes the highlevel of the GFL has made the transition for all four a lot smoother.
“I always knew it was pretty competitive outside of VFL and state footy, and you’ve really got to respect the opposition as much as you do at any level,” he said.
Despite Ruggles, Bourke, Smedts and West all coming off AFL lists in the past four seasons, Leopold coach Guy Morphet said “they’re just normal blokes”.
“They’re really good blokes, down to earth and they’ve come to the club wanting to help and make a difference,” Morphet said.
“They’ve been fantastic to what they’ve given to the group and I couldn’t thank them enough for the information they’ve brought.”
The first-year coach said he still harboured resentment that Ruggles could not find a new AFL home after being delisted by Geelong at the end of 2017 after 22 games.
Smedts was delisted by Carlton last season after only nine games at the Blues.
“I’m upset for Tom Ruggles that he still wasn’t looked at for AFL level,” Morphet said.
“I was shocked somebody else didn’t give him a crack. But I don’t think he held on to it too long.
“At the end of the day he needed to move on and he wanted to get back and play some good footy.”
Tomorrow, St Joseph’s and South Barwon clash in a knockout semi-final at GMHBA Stadium.