EFNL 2021: Key forward James Gough departs Fairpark

Fairpark has been dealt a major blow on the eve of the Eastern league season with a premiership spearhead exiting the club.

Gough snaps the sealer in the 2019 GF. Pic: Field of View

Fairpark has been dealt a major blow on the eve of the Eastern league season with a premiership spearhead exiting the club, but coach Sean Stanton is optimistic his club can overcome his loss.

Big man James Gough has departed for Geelong District league outfit Werribee Centrals where he’s slated to debut this weekend following the Lions’ last-ditch bid to retain his services.

Gough had lodged a transfer to join the Centrals on March 11, but the request was denied by Fairpark a few days later as he had previously committed for this season. However the Eastern Division 3 club has since conceded his loss.

The dual flag-winning forward was a key to the Lions’ rise in recent years after landing at the club in 2018 where he booted 81 goals from 35 matches.

James Gough in action in 2019. Picture: Valeriu Campan

He played a starring role in the 2019 drought-breaking Division 4 flag following on from booting a ton for Mount Waverley in the Southern league outfit’s 2016 premiership year.

The century goalkicker links up Centrals coach Nick Smith, who he played under at Mount Waverley.

Fairpark senior coach Sean Stanton said while it was disappointing to lose a key premiership figure, the club had to move on as it prepares for Round 1.

“It’s really disappointing that he was unable to commit to our footy club this year,” Stanton said.

“He’s a premiership player and we really appreciate the time that he gave our football club – we now have to move forward and move on without him.”

Stanton pointed to the club’s new names as part of a plan to help cover Gough’s absence this season.

The Lions added key defender Brodie Yapp from Koo Wee Rup ahead of 2020, alongside midfielder Luke Walker and key position forward Mitch Collins. They’re also set to welcome back Ben McLeod from a knee injury suffered in early 2019.

“We’ve been able to recruit in the off-season so initially ‘Goughy’ was unsure (of his future) late last year and we started to put some plans in place in the event that he wasn’t there,” Stanton said.

Fairpark embarks on a new division for the first time since 1996 this weekend, as it unfurls its flag under lights against Ferntree Gully – and Stanton said a host of young talent is expected to be on show for the event.

“We’ll have a new-look squad and it’ll be great because it’s going to provide opportunities particularly to some young kids who haven’t experienced senior footy before,” he said.

“What (Gough’s departure) does do, is we’ve got a heap of good kids coming through that’ll be given plenty of opportunity.

“It’s a big night for the football club, and it’s exciting.”