PORT Fairy has produced the recruiting coup of the off-season, picking up former Melbourne defender Paul Wheatley as it moves to cover the loss of several big names.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Wheatley, 29, yesterday confirmed he would join the Seagulls next season, where he will have an onfield leadership role with the club's many youngsters.
The announcement is a major boost for the Seagulls, wh o are facing the loss of more than a dozen players, including best and fairest winner Tim Robertson (Finley), former Western Australian star Trinity Handley and Tasmanian key forward Rory Mansell, who have all returned home.
Coach Shane Threlfall said Wheatley's decision to join the club was "fantastic" and he hoped it would help attract more recruits.
"We've lost quite a few players so to get someone of the ability of Paul and with his attributes is fantastic," he said.
"It will be fantastic for our young group.
"We've been pretty keen to get some experienced players to help educate the young kids. It might be the positive momentum we need."
Wheatley, who retired from the AFL at the end of 2009, played suburban footy with St Paul's Bentleigh in the Southern league last season and also worked as the backline coach of the Victorian Metropolitan under 18 side.
"He's looking forward to the challenge and understands where we are at and that we are going to be a very young side.
"He is very keen to come down and help educate our younger players."
Threlfall said the club's decision to chase a top-line player like Wheatley was part of a strategy to develop the town's young talent.
"We have blooded a lot of young players over the last two years and hope the experience will stand them in good stead.
"In five years' time I want to pick up the paper and see a dozen or 15 players who have played 100 games together with Port Fairy.
"Port Fairy has not been able to get a core group like that. If we can get to that stage where they have 12-15 who have played 100 games together we will then only have to do what every other club does and just pick up a few recruits each season.
"If I see that in five years my job would have been done."
Threlfall said it was important to give those players as much support as possible to ensure they stuck together.
"I need to put some experienced players around them to give them the confidence to hang around the place."
Confirmation of Wheatley joining Port for the 2011 season came a month after The Standard revealed the club was in negotiations with him.
The Seagulls, who finished seventh in 2010 with just two wins and a draw after lofty expectations, will be without their leading goalkicker Jet Dowie (Allansford), key defender Herb Barlow (North Warrnambool Eagles) and regular Nick Jones (Queensland) while a number of other players including Brad Kelly, Josh Brown and Josh Guiney have been training with Warrnambool and District league sides.
