DEAKIN University Sharks’ demise is proving Terang Mortlake’s gain.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
First-year Hampden league ruckman Jake Tanner is settling into life at the Bloods following his former Warrnambool and District league club’s decision to go into recess.
Tanner, 19, grew up playing at The Pond – bar a one-year under 18.5 stint at North Warrnambool Eagles – and had planned to step away from football this season.
But the son of East Framlingham dairy farmers decided to take a gap year himself, postponing his bio medicine course in Ballarat and paving the way for the Bloods to pounce.
He’s gone on to cement a spot Terang Mortlake’s best 21, playing 11 of their first 12 matches this season.
Tanner said it was a bittersweet result.
“I was a bit shattered,” he said of the Sharks’ decision to take a 12-month ‘gap year’.
“Sharks are a great club and it used to be a lot of fun there.
“I had a great time. I wouldn’t mind a reunion there in a couple of years.
“We might not have had the success of the other teams, but we stuck together.”
Tanner, who earned praise from Terang Mortlake coach Michael Sargeant for his steady marking in the Bloods’ narrow win over South Warrnambool, is relishing the chance to play in the ruck at Hampden level.
He is switching with TAC Cup-listed forward Lachie Wareham – one of his former Mortlake College classmates.
“I am working my way into it and am starting to play better football and improve a lot which is good,” Tanner said.
“It’s tough on the body but it’s rewarding at the same time.
“You learn a lot of things and I am getting a lot of advice from Peter Hobbs and Craig Fowler, not just about rucking but about positioning around the ground.
“I try to play a kick behind the play and intercept the ball.”
Tanner is keeping busy in his gap year, helping on his family’s 600-cow dairy farm and doing odd jobs, such as plastering.
The Mortlake College graduate also dabbles in other sports with tennis, volleyball and golf all part of his regular routine.
“I was originally going straight to uni this year and not playing any football,” he said.
“I decided to have a gap year and earn a bit of money.”
Sargeant said Tanner had “exceeded our expectations”.
“Being 19 and being the first ruck for us in the Hampden league (is a big achievement),” he said.
“He's still pretty raw ... he's still learning. He's not there making up numbers, he's competing really well, he's giving up first use.
“His tap work is second to none. I think it's some of the best tap work I've seen from a ruckman going around.”