VFL 2018: Former Coburg captain Tom Goodwin joins Port Melbourne
FORMER Coburg captain Tom Goodwin will stay in the VFL, linking up with Port Melbourne.
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IN terms of recruiting, it’s a good win for Port Melbourne.
The Borough have secured former Coburg captain and VFL representative Tommy Goodwin, boosting their ruck division for 2019.
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Goodwin, 25, surprised VFL watchers when he left the Burgers at the end of the season.
He said he had “grown stale’’ and wanted a fresh start and to enjoy some team success.
“What does the future hold? I don’t know at this stage,’’ Goodwin told Leader in late August.
“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Coburg, made a lot of friends. It certainly wasn’t an easy decision to make. In fact it was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my life.’’
He was pursued by a string of clubs, notably Port Melbourne and Williamstown, but in the end his desire to stay in the VFL and the Borough’s need for a ruckman led him to North Port Oval.
Goodwin, the son of former AFL defender Andy Goodwin, won Coburg’s best and fairest in 2016 and was installed as captain in 2017.
Before joining the Lions he had stints at Box Hill Hawks and Port Adelaide Magpies.
The Burgers have also lost talented youngster Hisham Kerbatieh, who is expected to sign at Williamstown, as is their 2017 best and fairest Liam Hunt, who walked out halfway through this year and joined North Heidelberg.
In better news, their co-best and fairest this year, Lochie Dickson, has re-signed.
Dickson crossed from Eastern club Norwood ahead of the season and was impressive in defence, playing every game and averaging 21 disposals.
Port Melbourne is one of a number of VFL clubs to have sounded out emerging Noble Park onballer Luke Nelson and it has also had talks with Ormond teenager Max Kennedy.
Coach Gary Ayres is close to finalising his panel of assistants.
Retired Port premiership player and former AFL goalsneak Robin Nahas is likely to stay at the club in a coaching capacity.
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