Tigers’ last-ditch bid to keep Floyd
COLAC will meet with young gun Ethan Floyd next week in a last-ditch attempt to retain his services.
Tigers coach Rowan McSparron said the club was hopeful Floyd would have a change of heart and remain in yellow and black, despite requesting a move to CDFL club Birregurra.
“I’ve got a meeting with him early next week at this stage, but we’re not entirely sure what his thoughts are,” McSparron said.
“It has (come as a bit of a shock). I’ll catch up with him and see where his headspace is at and we’ll take from there.”
Floyd has declared his interest in crossing to the Saints, joining his brother Campbell in departing the GFL grand finalist. But McSparron has not given up hope of convincing the younger of the Floyd siblings to stay.
“I’m right on the fence,” McSparron said.
“He’s been in the system for a few years now … he’s played TAC Cup and then VFL and GFL and it’s a bit of a strain on a young fella who’s coming through the ranks.”
“Personally he might feel like he’s a bit burnt-out, but that’s what we’ll have a chat about and see where he sits with it all.”
With the Tigers also saying goodbye to Dean Felekos, Pat Seal, Kaden Newton and Tyler Flanigan, McSparron confirmed the club had missed out on securing former junior Jarrod Walters, who has departed St Mary’s for VAFA club St Bernards. But McSparron said the club was in talks with gun Modewarre defender Morgan Fenton about returning to Tigerland.
“Morgan trained once or twice pre-Christmas, but he also trained at Modda, so I’m not entirely sure what he’s thinking at the minute,” McSparron said.
“We’ve had a couple of conversations and that’s ongoing.
“It’s pretty hard for him, he goes out with (Modewarre president Mick Fitzgerald) Fitzy’s daughter … so it makes it a little bit difficult for him.”
Fenton, who would return as a one-pointer, would add class to the Tigers’ defence and help offset the departure of Campbell Floyd.
“He’s played on Jordan Erskine and Mitch Day and the next week he would pick up a midsized forward,” McSparron said of Fenton’s versatility.
McSparron confirmed the club’s interest in injured Ocean Grove midfielder James Linton, who has also been in talks with the club.
“As a past junior and a premiership player, we’d love to have him back, but we’re just not sure what his body is like, to be honest,” he said.