FRIENDS and a new challenge has attracted a two-time Warrnambool and District league best and fairest to Gardens Oval.
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Former Russells Creek star Andy McMeel joins Port Fairy's stacked midfield with desires of helping the Seagulls end their 62-year Hampden league premiership drought.
"Their list looks really good and I think everyone (from last season) has stuck around and they are doing pretty well recruiting wise," the 26-year-old told The Standard.
"I just want to make an impact and do my thing for the team and hopefully we can win one."
The self-employed gardener, who stormed to two consecutive district league best and fairests with the Kangaroos, was excited about joining up with friends Matt Sully and Kurt Smith.
"I'm good mates and I wanted to play with them and have a bit of fun so playing here (at Port Fairy) seemed like a good idea," the midfield bull said.
The former North Warrnambool Eagle was eager to take his form of the past two seasons with him in his return to the Hampden league.
"It (the best and fairest wins) gives me a bit of confidence but I have played Hampden league before and now it's just about seeing if I can get a kick," he said.
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McMeel has spent the past three seasons at Mack Oval after he took a break from football during 2015.
In those three years at the Kangaroos he was captain in 2018-19 and would go on to win the senior side's best and fairest the past two campaigns.
Port Fairy coach Winis Imbi said McMeel joining was about more than just playing football.
"When we sat down we didn't even talk football, we knew he could play so we talked about other things," he said.
"Hopefully he knows that we want to enjoy our football but that we also want to do well.
"There are only four surviving premiership players at our club and hopefully one of those players will present a jumper to him in his first game.
"It's bigger than him getting a kick and he excitingly wants to be a part of that and obviously he is going to be testing himself and he has played at the level before and he comes back.
"Hopefully he will compliment what we are trying to do and bring really good energy."
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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.
