PORT Fairy has lured the biggest catch in the Hampden league this season, recruiting a former Western Australian Football League player.
Trinity Handley found himself in unfamiliar territory when he landed in Warrnambool this month — and it had nothing to do with moving interstate.
Almost every club in the HFNL began courting the utility as soon as he arrived.
“I’ve pretty much played at the same club for my whole career,” Handley said.
“The prospect of playing for another club and talking to other clubs was something which I found a little unusual.”
The challenge of helping the Seagulls boost their flagging fortunes on the HFNL ladder attracted the former Claremont player to the club.
Port Fairy finished second last in the 2009 home-and-away season above South Warrnambool.
He said he looked forward to helping Port Fairy rebuild and creating a culture of developing players within the club, rather than recruiting outsiders.
“From an outsider’s point of view, Port Fairy has a reputation for recruiting players and in a funny way I am continuing that.
“But hopefully I can put back in a culture of developing (players) within. I want to train with the underage teams and have some input in helping some of the younger players step up.”
Although Handley has enjoyed a stellar career in the WAFL, playing for Claremont’s TAC Cup equivalent and in ‘‘scratch’’ matches against the Fremantle Dockers, a premiership has eluded him.
He was determined to claim a grand final before his career’s end. While admitting a premiership might be beyond Port Fairy’s grasp this year, he believed the side could make the finals.
“That’s the first hurdle. If we can create a solid foundation that will set us up in the long term.”
Football is more than just a game for Handley, it is also his bread and butter. He moved from sun drenched Perth to windy Warrnambool to establish a Clontarf Foundation Aboriginal football academy.
Five institutions are being rolled out across the state and Warrnambool’s academy will target indigenous teenagers at Warrnambool and Brauer colleges.
Handley said the aim was to reconnect disengaged youths with school through football.
“I don’t want it to be exclusive just to Aboriginals but young Aboriginal males will be the main focus," he said.
“It’s rewarding work.
‘‘Hopefully we can get them back to school, then onto tertiary education or long-term employment.”
Port Fairy president Jeremy Rae described Handley’s recruitment as a coup.
“It is fantastic. Players of Trinity’s calibre do not come out of the blue much in the area,” Rae said.
“He will be a great role model for the club, especially for the junior players.
“The atmosphere at the club is amazing at the moment. (Coach) Shane (Threlfall) has the guys really gelling. We are averaging 40 players at training, three nights a week.”
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