FIVE recruits expected to help launch Port Fairy’s finals aspirations will line up for their new club in Hampden league’s pre-season competition today.
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The Seagulls will unveil prized signing Daniel Nicholson in their two round-robin matches against Cobden and South Warrnambool at Friendly Societies’ Park.
Nicholson, one of two former AFL players to join the league in the off-season, will play midfield for the Seagulls, having spent the bulk of his career at Melbourne as a rebounding defender.
Port Fairy is also poised to play Coburg trio Guy Phelps, Tyrone Bean and Jonathon Proud and Hawkesdale-Macarthur pick-up Dylan Herbertson.
Herbertson is on the comeback trail from a serious kidney injury which threatened to end his football career.
He lost 60 per cent of his left kidney, required three bouts of surgery and was told he should hang up his football boots for good after an on-field collision last July.
Port Fairy coach Brett Evans said Herbertson would wear a kidney brace in a bid to resume his stalled career.
“He played the two practice matches and got through and seems to think it is fine,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a risk with him forever. I am not sure how it works but he is confident there won’t be a problem there.”
Herbertson, at 180 centimetres, could be called to play a key defensive role this season.
“He is not overly tall and has been playing on pretty big forwards in the practice matches and has got his body in the right positions,” Evans said.
“It is definitely a position we were lacking in.”
Phelps and Bean played in the Seagulls’ practice games but Proud is preparing for his first matches in purple and gold.
The Coburg trio will give the Seagulls added depth across the ground. Phelps will play in defence, Bean in attack and Proud in the ruck.
“It is hard with practice matches to get a good gauge but they look like very good footballers who will help us out,” Evans said.
“Guy will probably play at centre half-back. He is pretty tall and strong but can also play wing or forward flank as he’s pretty agile and versatile.”
Former Hawks junior Kaine Mercovich is one of the Seagulls’ promising teenagers whom Evans expects to have an impact at senior level this season.
“He’s a forward but can change through the midfield,” he said.
“He is short but has good size on him for a 16-year-old kid.”
