NEW Panmure recruit Sam Negrello believes a sea change to the up-and-coming Bulldogs could set his football and working career on the perfect trajectory.
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The 21-year-old has joined the Warrnambool and District football outfit and will suit up alongside close friend Ben Robertson, who has crossed from Cobden as an assistant coach.
Negrello, a reserves grand final player with Simpson, said he felt the decision to sign with Panmure was simply “right” due to its close proximity to his workplace in Dixie.
He said a meeting with coach Joe Kenna all but sealed his fate and reinforced his thinking.
“He rang me up, and bought tea out. (Joe) is just a good bloke,” Negrello told The Standard.
“(Ben Robertson) mentioned coming across. I ummed and ahhed a bit and spoke to a few other clubs but Panmure was the perfect fit. He said he’ll pick me up on the way through to training and games as well, so I can’t complain.
“There were a few clubs interested but I feel like Panmure just fits my style and I know a few of the blokes already there.”
The dairy farmer was optimistic about the Bulldogs’ list and said they would vie for finals.
“Panmure have a pretty handy team as it is. I think we’ll be pushing for that fourth or fifth spot,” he said.
“They’ve got a good midfield there. It will be great work with them as a ruckman. The rest will just flow into position.
“I think we’re getting good numbers to training and the boys are looking pretty fit.
“Joey talks about every training how we’ve got to aim for finals, aiming to crack that top three or four.”
Negrello, who found form and cemented his senior place with Simpson towards the back-end of last year, managed three nominations among the Tigers’ bests in the final three games of the home-and-away season.
He was a key cog in the club’s reserves in 2014 and 2015.
”We had a bit of success. Last year we were knocked out , but the years before that we won (the senior flag),” he said.
“I don’t know how strong they’ll be this year. I wanted to play somewhere that is pushing to play finals.
“I want to win another flag and play in a strong team before I call it quits.”
Panmure coach Joe Kenna expected Negrello to take on the club’s ruck position on the back of a season-ending injury to last year’s first choice, Dan Ryan.
“We did our research on him and thought he was a good fit. He gives everything and doesn’t leave anything on the field,” he said.
“He’s very keen and eager to step up and to take on that number one role. Time will tell how he responds and how he can contribute.”
