Southern league: Jack Purcell kicks 14 goals for Ashwood

Jack Purcell might give the century a nudge if he keeps up his run of goals in Division 3 of the Southern league.

Jack Purcell kicked a bag of 14 for Ashwood last Saturday.

He’s more jackhammer than jumping Jack.

Whatever his style, Ashwood newcomer Jack Purcell is attracting attention for his goalkicking exploits in Division 3 this season.

A bag of 12 in Round 1 against Doveton Eagles signalled his arrival to the Southern league.

He topped that last Saturday with 14 goals against South Mornington at Citation Reserve, lifting him to 34 after four matches.

The Magpies are chuffed; their leading goalkicker for 2019 kicked 20 for the season.

Purcell, 30, joined Ashwood from Eastern league club Donvale, crossing with Josh Cardamone.

He kicked 77 goals in Donvale’s premiership season of 2017, missed all of 2018 with a knee injury and returned with 48 goals in 2019.

Jack Purcell booting a goal for Donvale.

Purcell was also a premiership player with Mitcham in 2015.

“The supporter in me finds it a bit exciting,’’ first-year Ashwood coach Nick Morrey said of Purcell’s goalkicking.

“He’s just a really competitive bloke who came across – for no money – with his good mate Josh Cardamone and straight away he had respect.

“When he speaks, the group really respond to him, and that was the case before he was even kicking goals. In the pre-season he was really strong with his leadership. He’s intense but in a good way. Has a laugh with the lads, he’s a good family man, the kind of person we want at our club.’’

He said Purcell was a six-footer but impressively strong, fought hard for position, was good on the lead, a one-touch mark and an accurate right-foot kick.

Defenders have found he’s also happy to crash into packs.

“If you get in his way, which teams have so far – they’ve thrown a man back – he’ll make contact going for the footy, but fairly,’’ Morrey said.

“He’s built like a brick-you-know-what.’’

Morrey added: “The goals have come but we’re not judging him on goals, as stupid as that sounds. All we’re looking for is a competitive effort forward, bring the ball to ground, if you mark it fantastic, if not we compete hard.’’

Purcell leads the goalkicking from Black Rock newcomer Michael Donehue, who booted six against Narre South Saints last Saturday. Donehue slotted nine the previous week against Doveton Eagles.

Clayton’s Paul Tscoulas kicked five against South Yarra to go to third on the table with 17.

Purcell was the headline act in Ashwood’s big win over South Mornington, but the round was significant for two juniors stepping into senior ranks, Connor Wall in the seniors and Zac Hattersley in the reserves.

The club started under-age teams in 2012.

Hattersley was named best-afield in the reserves and Wall laid eight tackles in the senior game.

“They were the first two boys from the Ashwood juniors to move into senior football,’’ Morrey said.

“It was a real landmark day for our club. As much as Jack was the story kicking 14, having the two juniors debut for the club was massive.’’

Ashwood is 3-1 and Morrey is pleased but he knows stronger opposition is approaching.

The Magpies meet Clayton this week and then Endeavour Hills.

“They’re two of the better teams in the comp … they beat us seven times out of eight in 2019, so we’ll know in two weeks where we sit,’’ Morrey said.

“We want to be in the contest.’’