A flag for Panmure tomorrow could signal the retirement of club veteran Murray Ellerton.
A PREMIERSHIP tomorrow could signal the end of Panmure veteran Murray Ellerton’s football career.
Ellerton, 36, is yet to make a final decision on his playing future but is leaning towards hanging up the boots after tomorrow’s Warrnambool and District league grand final against Kolora-Noorat.
“They say you are a long time retired,” he said.
“It’s not definite I will retire but it’s on the cards.”
A two-time premiership player with Hampden league club Terang Mortlake, Ellerton said winning a flag with Panmure would cap off his career.
“It would mean a lot to Panmure too,” he said.
Ellerton joined the Bulldogs as an assistant coach in 2007.
The forward has battled injuries this season, only playing nine senior matches as well as three reserves games.
“I’ve had a few problems. I am getting a bit old,” Ellerton said.
“My body has come good at the right time of the year.”
Ellerton, who missed the Bloods’ 2004 premiership win with a broken leg, said Kolora-Noorat deserved favouritism heading into tomorrow’s decider at Warrnambool’s Reid Oval after its 33-point second semi-final win.
“They are the favourites but we are confident we can give it a shake,” he said. “We didn’t play to our best in the first final.
“They are a quick side and very well drilled.
“We need to stick to our structures and play the game we want to play.
“As ‘Tocka’ (Simon O’Keefe) said in the paper, you learn a lot more from losses than you do if you win. Hopefully that will help us get over the line.”
Ellerton’s son Leo, 4, is likely to start Auskick next year, meaning he will remain involved with the Bulldogs if he decides to retire.