Warrnambool's Josh Dean switches from basketball to football

But the Warrnambool recruit hopes his lifelong passion for the sport will help him transition from the basketball court.

The Big V-winning championship guard is two pre-season sessions into his Hampden league challenge, having opted to stand aside as Warrnambool Seahawks’ starting point guard.

“Back in Alice Springs, when I was back in year 4, I started Auskick for two weeks but we weren’t allowed to tackle, so I stopped and picked up basketball and went with it ever since,” Dean said.

“I always intended to come back to footy at some stage.

“After we won the (Big V) championship and couldn’t defend it this year, I thought it’s probably as good a time as any to give it a crack.”

Dean trialled with Warrnambool two years ago before opting to stick with basketball.

The decision paid off – he played alongside NBL-listed human highlight reel Nathan Sobey in the Seahawks’ 2016 drought-breaking title.

“You rock up to basketball each year and it’s ‘here’s Josh, he does this’ and with footy it’s uncharted territory and I have to prove myself again,” Dean said.

“There’s no outstanding presumptions on what I can do, it’s just ‘see how he goes’.

“I am hoping to play seniors. I am hoping to get the most out of myself but as I said I have no idea if I am going to be anything at this game but while I am still young I want to give it a go.

“That’s why I chose Hampden league as well because if I am going to do it, I want to do it properly, and all the resources they have I am going to use and see where I can get myself.

“Whether that be I am just a twos grade footballer or a ones, I just want to give it a go and say that I’ve done it.”

Dean is happy to play any position for Warrnambool.

At six-foot-one he will be one the Blues’ taller options.

“I thought with the basketball transition I might have decent quick hands to be in the midfield but I am not small so possibly in the forward line,” he said.

Warrnambool started its pre-season campaign on Monday without a coach.

Dean said the Blues’ leaders had implemented a solid pre-season training schedule.

“It’s tough, it’s different (to basketball), even outside air is so much different to running around inside a stadium,” he said.

“It’s exciting but it’s going to be a hard challenge.

“We are short, sharp sprints (in basketball) and this is repeated efforts. That’s the sort of stuff at training that’s really hard and I am going to adjust to.

“We can do a sprint and I’m all sweet and we do another sprint and I’m no good. I have to get that tank up.”