DYLAN Burns’ decision to move south is paying dividends on and off the football field.
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The 20-year-old East Warrnambool ruckman used a move from Mildura last year to reconnect with his biological mother, dropping almost 60 kilograms in the process.
He is forging a successful football career on the back of the changes, rounding out the new-look Bombers’ leadership group as a vice-captain.
Despite his new lease of life at Reid Oval, Burns told The Standard he landed at East by chance.
“I came up last year to watch East Warrnambool play Russells Creek, and I said ‘right, I’ll play for whoever wins this game,” he said.
“I’ve sort of fallen in love with footy again. Mum loves it, and I do too. It’s been such a good feeling running out with the boys.”
Burns said his weight loss had been responsible for the revival of his football career, which stagnated in Mildura.
“When I came down here, I was about 150 kilograms. Watching all the boys running around the field, I started getting itchy feet.
“Something clicked in my head and from that second I just wanted to get back into fitness and all of that. I fell in love with it again – kicking goals, running up and down the field – everybody screaming your name.
“The big thing for me was that I was overweight and that I was spending every day just sitting on the couch, looking at food. I picked up the footy again and I’ve just loved it.”
Burns played a crucial role in the Bombers’ maiden win of the campaign last week over Russells Creek.
The big thing for me was that I was overweight and that I was spending every day just sitting on the couch, looking at food. I picked up the footy again and I’ve just loved it.
- Dylan Burns
He nullified Kangaroos coach Heath Moloney in the ruck and stamped his credentials as one of the competition’s brightest young big men.
Burns praised coach Danny Chatfield and predicted the Bombers to continue their upward trajectory in 2017.
“(Danny) is what we need, a tough competitor,” he said.
“We need a leader that goes in with their head over the ball every time.
“I think some people saw Danny cop a head knock on the weekend, but he just got straight back up and kept going.
“He’s 30-something years of age and he’s looking to play next year as well. If we can keep him around the club, we’re excited.
“If he’s here, as well as Grinder (assistant coach Sam Grinter) we should retain a lot of the boys.”
East Warrnambool is set to lock horns with the in-form Timboon Demons at Reid Oval on Saturday.
