Justin Sherman reveals how premiership star landed in Laurimar’s lap
Laurimar coach Justin Sherman couldn’t believe his luck when a NFL premiership defender contacted the club’s Facebook page to see if he could pull on the boots with the Division 3 club this season.
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Laurimar’s recruiting campaign received an unexpected boost when an NFL premiership player walked into the club.
Alisdair Jackson, who was full-back in Hurstbridge’s 2016 Division 2 premiership win over North Heidelberg, has joined Justin Sherman’s side.
The experienced defender has spent the past three years with Southern league club Mordialloc, where he was part of its Division 1 preliminary final side in 2018 and played all 18 matches last season.
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Having moved to Doreen, Jackson will suit up for the Power after contacting the Division 3 outfit through Facebook.
“He landed in our laps really. He moved to Doreen a block away from the oval, and approached us,” Sherman revealed.
“We had a intraclub hitout … and he had an immediate impact with his voice and direction.
“He brings some big-game experience, a wealth of experience, and fits our culture and how we want to go about it.
“He’s an outstanding individual and he’s an older, experienced player.”
Jackson will strengthen a youthful Laurimar defence Sherman admits was found out in the heat of finals last season.
After starting the campaign 13-0, the Power lost the two of the last three games of the regular season before crashing out of finals in straight sets.
Jackson joins new faces Daniel Francis (Thomastown), Matt Gersh, Mitch Lucas (both Hurstbridge) and Paul Cluney (Reservoir) at Laurimar Reserve.
Sherman confirmed the club would play two practice matches in the lead up to Round 1, first against Murray league club Cogupna (March 14) and then against Kinglake (March 21).
The third-year coach said the matches would be a good chance to test pre-season game plan changes.
“We’ve been concentrating a lot on our full-ground ball movement and that was definitely on show (in our intraclub),” Sherman said.
“The way the boys were moving it from the defensive half, through the middle of the ground and into the forward line is a credit to our coaching staff and fitness staff.
“At the moment there’s good signs but no one wants to be world beaters in February, there’s a long way to go.”
Laurimar kicks off its 2020 season at home against Kilmore on April 4.
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