FAMILY brought Tyler Seabrook to south-west Victoria but a chance at success is what drove him to the Warrnambool Rangers.
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The 19-year-old moved from Shepparton three months ago to be closer to his family and especially little sister Sienna, 9.
But it wasn't long before the attacking midfielder was searching for a soccer club to call home.
And after a quick search he settled on the Jones Oval-based Ballarat and District Soccer Association side, who open its title defence against Ballarat on Sunday.
"I have played since I was eight years old and played in the NPL (National Premier League) for Goulburn Valley Suns," Seabrook said of his past in the sport.
"I sent the boys at the Rangers a message to see if they were looking for any new players and came down for a training and here I am all signed up.
"All the boys are very friendly and there is a fair bit of talent around the squad."
Seabrook, who is working on a farm in Mortlake, said he shared the same goals as his teammates heading into the 2019 BDSA season.
"I would love to go back-to-back and I think we have the team to do so," he said.
"I do have very good expectations of the team."
Previously Seabrook has played as a striker but with the likes of Ryan Bail and Clinton Demartin leading the Rangers' attack he has had to shift his role.
He said he could be playing more of a central attacking midfielder role under Cameron Pyke.
"In the practice game the other day I played mostly attacking midfield and I felt very comfortable," Seabrook said.
"I'm not sure if I will stay there but I think I'll play some sort of forward role. It's a little bit of a change but I do enjoy it."
The returning manager was excited by what Seabrook could bring to his side.
"He brings a high skill level coming from state league teams," he said.
"He played in our friendly against Colac and instantly gelled in with the group and when you find that right cog in the team it was really instantaneously he picked up the position.
"Where last year we had Josh Bourke now we can play Tyler out on a left wing or potentially behind the striker so it will be good to have his experience."
Pyke said the team was heading in the right direction with round one starting on Sunday.
"We have had a good pre-season and we have had a couple of friendlies where we have had some really good results," he said.
"It's not just been the way we have been scoring goals it's how we have been playing all across the pitch.
"We are really confident after winning the cup last year that we have improved on our side, whilst we have lost a couple we have added some depth."
Drew Garner joins Bourke studying in Melbourne, while Cameron Jennings is playing elsewhere this season.
Morgan Brown is one returning face to the Rangers squad, while Isaac Osborn, Declan Mitchell, Ben Rogers will step up from the juniors.
Spike Pilcher and Max Naylor have joined the club alongside Seabrook.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
