Bernie Vince could be last player to debut for Maryborough Rovers

The former AFL star could be the last player to make a senior debut for a country footy club playing its final season. More here.

Ex-AFL star Bernie Vince could create history this Saturday as one of the last players to debut for the Maryborough Rovers.

Vince will play for the Maryborough Castlemaine league club as part of the Carlton Draft.

He joins Kane Cornes, Josh Kennedy, David Mundy and Jordan Lewis who have already played this season.

But this week’s game stands apart as the Rovers’ time as a club will end this year.

The team will amalgamate with fellow Maryborough team Royal Park to become one club, which is likely to be called the Maryborough Giants.

“I probably will be the last to debut, no one can take it away,” Vince said.

“It’s always sad to see clubs amalgamate.

“It means they can’t function on their own.”

Vince, who grew up on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, played his junior footy for CMS Crows, which is a merged entity with his home town Stansbury.

Stansbury were the Kangaroos for more than 80 years before the merger.

Bernie Vince training with the Demons in his final year with the club in 2018. Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images

He knows what Maryborough Rovers are about to go through after Stansbury made the move when he was a junior.

“My local town did that at home as well and your hand is forced a little bit,” he said.

“Hopefully it makes them a bit stronger and more competitive.”

He’s hoping to become the fourth Carlton Draft player to win this season with Rovers facing Campbells Creek.

It’s their first meeting since Campbells Creek ended their 29-game losing streak to Rovers last year.

The tide has since turned with Rovers bouncing back to win twice this season while Campbells Creek is on a 12-game losing streak after losing their last four games in 2022 and first eight this season.

It’s also an important day for the club with a past players’ reunion organised to celebrate the final year of the club.

Maryborough Rovers celebrate a win this year. Picture: Rachael Raven.

Vince was confident he could help add another win in the Rovers’ final year.

“It’s exciting,” he said.

“I just thought we may get belted with the way they played (previously).

“When we saw the ladder position, I said ‘that’s not bad’.

“Hopefully it’s a good day for the community and the club and hopefully I can get a kick too.”

Vince’s last competitive hitout was for Moe in 2019 when he played a full season for the Gippsland league team after his AFL retirement.

He’s been having a kick around recently with a few Yorke Peninsula players based in Adelaide.

The two-time best and fairest winner, who won at both Melbourne and Adelaide, is hoping to find form throughout the day.

“Hopefully they can give me a free reign to play where I want,” Vince said.

“I saw a bit of footage of Josh Kennedy so if I look half as good as that, I’d take that.

“Maybe I’ll role model myself on that.

“Hopefully I’ll combine for both of them (touches and goals) get lots of footy and goals as well.”

Vince will take on Campbells Creek at Jubilee Oval at 2.35pm.