Echuca footballer Matt Pollock will return to his hometown team of Leitchville-Gunbower next season as the Bombers seek to secure an historic first finals position in the Heathcote and District Football League.
Pollock, who grew up in Gunbower, represents a big coup for the club after he spent four years with Goulburn Valley Football League side Echuca.
‘‘We’re really excited about Matt Pollock coming back to the club,’’ Leitchville-Gunbower coach Scott Trewhella said.
‘‘He will obviously bolster our on-ball attack.
‘‘I think he is looking forward to playing with a group of mates he’s grown up with.
‘‘Tyler Jones and those sorts of guys are excited about having him come back.’’
Trewhella said the club had secured most of its list for next season, with three other players having signed for the Bombers.
George Allen, a best-and-fairest winner and half-back flanker, has signed from Wycheproof Narraport Football Club, while Trewhella hopes Echuca United recruit Broddy Dickson will play at centre-half back.
Former local Mark Kingma has also returned from Newbridge.
Shaun Gilbert has moved to Horsham and Michael Atkinson is likely to retire, but Trewhella was hopeful not too many changes would be made to the list.
‘‘We have a couple of young guys going to uni, but they have committed to travelling home,’’ he said.
‘‘The club will look to remain competitive and aim to play finals.’’
The club has started pre-season training on Mondays until Christmas, before it resumes on January 16.
30 years ago...
Echuca residents showed how proud they are to live in Victoria’s Premier City by getting into the party mood in Hare St on Friday night.
Chief coordinator of the Premier City entry Penny Hearn said she was pleased with the number of people who turned out to celebrate Echuca’s recent victory.
“The cake donated by Suttons Bakery was absolutely magnificent and the kids enjoyed the icy-pole eating competition, so everyone had lots of fun,” Penny said.
“Everyone was there in a voluntary capacity and I would really like to thank everyone who helped, it was a really nice way to celebrate.”
50 years ago...
Friday, December 10, 1971
There is no cause for alarm over the current locust threat, the manager of the plague locust campaign, Mr Jim McPherson, said in Echuca yesterday.
“In the main the concentration of hoppers is not great and there is no problem,” he said.
Mr McPherson is directing operations of the campaign from a headquarters set up at the Echuca office of the Department of Agriculture.
A helicopter is being used in the battle to wipe out the locusts.
From Echuca aerodrome the helicopter is making daily trips into the problem areas to report on the situation.
10°C