FINALS GOAL MAGNET NOW A SEAGULL
BARWON Heads has signed a player with VFL experience – and who once kicked 20 goals in a flag-winning Ballarat Football League finals campaign – as a one-point acquisition.
Shaun Lyle, who played 17 VFL games with North Ballarat in 2017 and was one of the key players in North Ballarat City’s 2013 and ’14 premierships, has put pen to paper as one of four recruits at Howard Harmer Oval.
Lyle has not played since his state league season with the Roosters five years ago and, as such, joins the Seagulls as a one-point player in a shrewd piece of recruiting.
Barwon Heads coach Dan Donati said he was alerted to Lyle’s availability through Seagull Brad Michell.
“I got a phone call one day from B.J. (Michell), saying he was out having a hit of golf with him and chatting about the footy club and Shaun had had a few years out of footy with other priorities in life,” Donati said.
“Brad told me to give him a call, which I did and said to come down and have a run for a few sessions to see if he felt like he wanted to get back into it.
“Thankfully, last night before Christmas, he decided to commit, which is really exciting for us.”
Under AFL Victoria’s player points policy, a player who has not played for three years is allocated one point in a club’s cap.
Lyle has built a reputation as a finals performer.
He returned two, five, nine and four goals in North Ballarat City’s
2013 finals series and five in the 2014 decider.
Donati described him as a “classy player”.
“To have someone of the quality of Shaun as a human being and obviously with his background, there’s no pressure on Shaun whatsoever, but just the fact he’s down at the club wanting to have a kick and have a smile, that’s awesome,” he said. “That fact he’s one point is a bonus.”
Eastern league pair Sam Baker (Mooroolbark) and Kyle Maher (Croydon) have also moved to the region and signed with Barwon Heads.
Baker was named in the Eastern Division 1 Team of the Year in 2019 during his time with Lilydale.
Leighton Driscoll, who played four senior games in his one season with Lara last year, is another notable recruit.
Premiership pair Lachlan Slorach (Navarre) and Damien Horbury (Wycheproof) have joined Charlie Brauer, Flynn Young (Grovedale) and Sam Witherden (North Shore) on the departures list.