Gulls to get Graham
Eleven years since playing in the Gippsland League, former Carlton midfield Nick Graham will make a return to the league he grew up in.
Now signing on with Warragul Football Club, he hopes to give back to the community that fostered his ability as a youngster.
Talks began with former teammate Jed Lamb, the two had become good mates while playing for Carlton from 2016-2018.
“We came through the Gippsland Power ranks together, so I knew Jed prior to joining the Blues but him joining the Blues was an added bonus because we got pretty close during that time,” Graham said.
When Lamb made the decision to join the Gulls, Graham also decided to visit the club and found a depth of talent on the rise, particularly in the Fourths who finished top of the ladder this year.
Graham was the same age when he won a Gippsland League premiership with Traralgon in 2010.
“It was more than 10 years ago now, it’s a long time, feels like a lifetime ago to be honest.
“I’m looking forward to getting down there and giving back to the community, it helped me a bit when I was coming through the ranks so it’ll be good fun to play against some guys who I haven’t played with for a while,” Graham said.
He expects to meet old rivals and friends on the field once again, after going through Gippsland Power with the likes of Sale’s Best and Fairest winner Shannen Lange and Bairnsdale’s Simon Deery.
After the AFL, Graham played for Darley with his two brothers in the Ballarat Football League. But following a year of COVID, Graham came close to retiring.
“I wasn’t actually going to play again, I was going to hang the boots up,” he said.
But his friends convinced him to come to a training at Spotswood Football Club, and soon after he decided to sign up.
“That kind of got my passion back for footy to be honest, I really enjoyed the year and then I just wanted to make a move this year and head back down to play with Jed,” Graham said.
The 27-year-old currently lives in Melbourne but will travel to Warragul for trainings and game day, he’s been keeping fit in the off season by preparing for the Melbourne Marathon.
And with two Carlton stars now in their ranks, the year ahead looks promising.
“Push for finals, and if obviously we do make finals then push for a premiership with a young core group of kids would be fantastic,” he said.