West Gippsland league: Paul Fermanis joins Korumburra Bena

It was Korumburra Bena’s lucky day when a decorated footballer from Melbourne bought a house 700m from its ground.

Paul Fermanis as a leader for Oakleigh District.

Someone mentioned to someone that a fellow who played football was moving into the area.

Word got around Korumburra quickly – no good whisper expires prematurely in country towns – and before too long Paul Fermanis was taking phone calls.

The Korumburra Bena Giants wanted him.

It turned out Giants president Troy Patterson knew Fermanis from their time in the Southern league – Patterson at Dingley, Fermanis at Oakleigh District.

And on Sunday the powerful right-footer made Korumburra Bena his new club, two weeks ahead of making Korumburra his new home.

He and his partner have decided on a change of lifestyle, wanting to raise their two children in South Gippsland rather than Melbourne.

“We were after something different, to be honest,’’ he said.

“I’ve got family from near Wilson’s Prom and we’ve been through the town (Korumburra) and it’s quite nice and we ended up buying something there.

“Good for the kids, a bigger backyard, more space. It’s a new chapter for us, and with the footy it will be a great way to meet people.’’

Paul Fermanis won two best and fairests at Oakleigh District.

Fermanis is 33, but only two years ago when playing for Somerville he was runner-up in the league best and fairest in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league.

He initially thought he would stay at Somerville even after making the move to Korumburra, but the fact that he will be living only 700m from the Giants ground prompted him to play a lot closer to home.

Fermanis has been a prominent local footballer for a long time.

He played with Oakleigh Chargers in the TAC Cup, had VFL stints with Port Melbourne (2007) and Sandringham (2011), was a dominant player for Oakleigh District, had one season at Noble Park and another at Healesville, and joined Somerville in 2019.

He’s best known for his performances with the Oaks, where he won two best and fairests and quite a few matches off his own boot.

Unfortunately for Fermanis he left ahead of the 2015 season and six months later the club broke its long premiership drought.

He returned from Healesville in 2016 – and then missed out on Healesville’s flag.

“I reckon I’m a curse … the way it works Somerville will probably win it next year,’’ he said with a laugh.

Paul Fermanis at Noble Park.

The Giants have a new coach in former Port Melbourne assistant Leigh Cole, and are looking to improve on a 2-9 season in 2021.

“Anything can happen next year,’’ Fermanis said. “The club will pick up a few and we’ll improve. Hopefully I can help out. I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the pre-season and meeting everyone.’’

Patterson said Fermanis’s experience and leadership would be valuable to a young team.

“He’s just the sort we needed, someone a bit older and obviously really talented who can straighten us up,’’ he said.

“The best part about it is he’s going to be living in town and he’ll train two night as weeks. It’s going to be fantastic for the young guys.’’