EDFL 2021: Strathmore signs four-time premiership player Adam Winter

The EDFL club’s attacking half has been bolstered, while coach Matt Horne reveals the ex-AFL midfielder burning up the track.

Adam Winter’s experience will be crucial for Strathmore this season. Picture: Jamie Morey

Towering forward Adam Winter has returned to Strathmore in a major boost to the club’s hopes of securing its first Essendon District Football League Premier Division flag since 2014.

Winter has been one of the competition’s leading forwards for more than a decade and has signed on after three seasons with Glenroy.

The former AFL rookie is a four-time premiership player at the Mores and was also a key member of the Roys’ Division 1 triumph in 2017, kicking 63 goals for the campaign including seven in the decider.

Winter was in contention for a spot in the EDFL’s Team of the Decade, which was unveiled in December 2019, but was ultimately overlooked.

He has booted 64 goals for Glenroy in the past two seasons in the top flight, with Strathmore coach Matt Horne declaring Winter remained a dangerous performer inside the attacking 50m arc and would command a top defender.

Adam Winter battles with Aberfeldie’s Ryan Allan in the 2014 EDFL decider. Pictures: Angie Basdekis

“It’s really good for the club,” Horne said.

“He’s one of, if not the best, to play there in the last 10-15 years, he’s a good person and we’re rapt he can finish off where it started in 2005.

“Hopefully, like his first year, it finishes off in a premiership as well.

“But it’s a big inclusion. He hasn’t got any smaller, still takes a good mark and is still a nice kick of the footy.

“I think he’ll be really important for our young forwards as well, just to have that bigger body.”

Horne said the lure of team success was a factor in Winter’s decision to return.

The Mores have exited the flag race at the penultimate hurdle the past two campaigns, losing both games by single figure margins.

“We obviously respect Glenroy as a club and have a really good relationship with them, and he (Winter) couldn’t have spoken any more highly of them,” Horne said.

“But I think team success played a part.”

Kyle Weightman was Strathmore’s leading goalkicker in 2019, finishing with 24 majors, followed by Shane Foulds (23) and Josh Helliwell (20).

Coburg-listed Athan Tsialtas contributed 17 from 12 games, but put his name up in lights with a five-goal haul in his side’s preliminary final loss to Aberfeldie.

Horne said he was “really confident” 2020 recruit Floyd Bollinghaus would also bolster the forward line.

“We’re really excited about what he can do, but I think him and Winter will complement each other,” he said.

“Hopefully we don’t see Athan, but if we do, we go from a team that didn’t have too many talls and played a couple of undersized guys in key positions and now we’ve got some genuine big guys in front of the ball, so that will give us a few more options with the way we want to play.”

The Mores have lost 2020 recruits Jesse Johnson, Arion Richter-Salter and James Sullivan.

But classy forward Matthew Knight signed on last month, while Tierone Cuffe and Tom Denning have also linked up with the club since the end of 2019.

Horne forecast some selection headaches ahead of his side’s blockbuster Good Friday clash against reigning premier on Good Friday (April 2) and said star midfielder Nick O’Brien had been among those to impress on the training track.

“We’ve probably got 35 guys I’d be confident in playing senior footy in Round 1,” he said.

“A lot of those young guys who have played senior games over the last two years have probably benefited from the year off. They just look more like men’s bodies.

“But the older guys are all in fantastic nick. Nick O’Brien’s put on 10kg and is still running unbelievably well, so he’s probably one who really stands out.”