TIGERS THROUGH AND THROUGH
COLAC big man Lochie Veale remains supremely confident his club will retain the entire senior list for next season, despite the threat of poaching from rival leagues.
As the Hampden Football League became the latest domino to fall amid the coronavirus, clubs in the Warrnambool & District Football League are circling a host of Tigers who won’t play this season after the GFL season was abandoned on Tuesday.
But Veale believes his teammates will stick fat, echoing the sentiments of his president, Matt Gibson, who is confident the bulk of the Tigers’ list will resist the urge to switch clubs.
“There’s 14 or so players (from the southwest) who have moved to the GFL, BFL or GDFL and they are the ones who are potentially more likely to go home and play,” Veale said.
“It’s hard to see them getting the season going, but if they make a call to play on, the potential is there for anyone to go and get a season of footy under their belt.
“But I’m the same as Gibbo. I’m reasonably confident we won’t lose anyone. I think most of the boys will put their feet up and get some rest and hopefully in a few weeks once restrictions have been eased we’ll catch up for a beer and a barbecue, close the season out and get ready to go again in October.”
Blue-chip Colac recruit Brody Mahoney is one player who is certain to be courted, having previously played for Hampden club Cobden.
And while Mahoney is yet to play a game at the Tigers, having crossed over from SANFL club Central Districts, Veale declared the ball magnet was going nowhere.
“He’ll hang around,” Veale said.
“He’s a lot like Jarryn McCormack, rocks up and fits in straight away. He’s a good bloke and he was ready to go.
“Brody is that next-level midfielder that every club require and I think he’ll stay around. I’d be very confident that no one will go.”
HOPEFULLY IN A
FEW WEEKS ... WE’LL CATCH UP FOR A BEER AND A BARBECUE, CLOSE THE SEASON OUT AND GET READY TO GO AGAIN IN OCTOBER.’’ COLAC’S LOCHIE VEALE