JOSH Alexander grew up a stone’s throw from Friendly Societies’ Park.
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These days he lives three hours away in Melbourne, a first-year university student who trains three nights a week with his TAC Cup club Northern Knights.
Yet Alexander, 18, makes the trek down the Princes Highway every weekend — Knights’ commitments permitting — to play for South Warrnambool.
Simply, he is passionate about the Roosters and the direction they’re heading.
South Warrnambool is winless after five HFNL rounds but is widely considered a team on the rise, such is its enviable junior talent pool.
“I love it there,” Alexander said.
“Everyone is still pretty positive. We got close to Koroit and only lost by 34.
“With a couple more years’ experience we’ll be flying.”
Alexander, who has played 16 senior games for South Warrnambool, wants to use the experience he’ll gain from a season at TAC Cup level to establish himself as a solid Hampden league contributor.
The back flanker graduated from Emmanuel College last year and started at Latrobe University in February.
The move allowed him to join Northern Knights. So far he’s played three matches for his state league under 18 club and will play his fourth this weekend.
“I haven’t gone too well,” Alexander said. “I haven’t been able to find my feet as much as I’d like to.”
One of those games was against North Ballarat Rebels — the club south-west teenagers are aligned to.
Alexander trained with the Rebels before the 2014 season but missed the final cut.
He enjoyed the chance to play against some of his Hampden league contemporaries at TAC Cup level.
“It was good. There were a lot of people from back home and South playing,” he said.
“Hugh McCluggage played his first game and played pretty well and Willem Drew from Koroit, he lives opposite me in Warrnambool.”
Alexander’s season aims on a team level are to get more opportunities with the Knights and help the Roosters notch some confidence-boosting wins.
Personally, adding upper body strength and learning to run to the right positions are high on his priority list.
As for the regular visits home — the health science-business student is just happy he gets to see “heaps of mates, family and eat free food”.