Terang Mortlake recruits Wilbur Pomorin and Connor Arnott with new U/18 and a half coach Shane Quick.
FOR Wil Pomorin, blood is thicker than water.
The hugely talented South Warrnambool premiership player followed his heart in signing with Hampden Football Netball League club Terang Mortlake.
The 19-year-old joins former Blood Connor Arnott as Terang Mortlake’s key additions for the new season.
Pomorin, who had been living in Ballarat while at boarding school, opted to return to the south-west.
“I just decided to move back from Ballarat and thought I would have a bit of a run with my brother Gus and cousin Chris Baxter,” he said.
“It was tough (choosing between South Warrnambool and the Bloods). I was looking for a bit of a change and the family ties helped make up my mind.”
Pomorin is hoping the new surrounds will bring him some luck.
His 2010 season with TAC Cup side North Ballarat Rebels was ruined by a broken bone in his back and after a strong start in 2011, he found himself on the verge of Vic Country under 18 selection. But on the final training night before the trials he suffered a serious ankle injury.
He managed to make it back in time to play with the Roosters, helping South Warrnambool to the senior flag. He returned to the Rebels last season as he looked for draft opportunities. But a knee injury limited his output.
“I’ve been injured the last couple of years and I guess I was a bit homesick. That’s why I moved home and maybe I will have a couple of years down here now,” Pomorin said.
The apprentice builder, who is half-way through his training, picked up work through the Bloods and is excited about finishing his apprenticeship and playing footy in the blue and red.
While he has played predominantly on a wing or across half-forward at senior level, he expects his role with the Bloods will be in the midfield this season.
Pomorin said he hadn’t given up on playing at a higher level but he wanted to finish his apprenticeship first.
“Everyone likes to think you are still going to have a crack,” he said. “I think in the next few years I will have a crack at VFL or going interstate, but not until I get my apprenticeship done.”
Key position player Arnott returns to the Bloods after a year in Townsville with his brother.
But the 20-year-old said he was looking forward to being back at Terang Mortlake.
The cabinetmaker has picked up work with the club’s assistant coach Ben Price at South West Kitchens and the Rebels graduate is injury-free as pre-season training ramps up.
While he was largely used as a key defender by former Bloods coach Damian O’Connor, Arnott said he had wasted no time in telling this year’s coach Shane Threlfall he was up for a move forward.
Threlfall said the Bloods were excited to appoint former clubman Shane Quick as under 18 coach.
grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au