Port Melbourne dasher Shannen Lange has retired from the VFL
The premiership player and 100-gamer had his best season in 2019 but he’s decided to play local football next year.
Victorian Football
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After his best season for Port Melbourne, Shannen Lange has retired from the VFL, gracefully and gratefully.
Believing no AFL clubs are showing interest in him, the Borough speedster has decided to put more time into his work and less into football.
He’s likely to play at Melton South, which he lists as his home club, next year.
“The reason I was playing in the VFL was to see if I could go a bit further,’’ Lange said last night.
“I’m 26 next year. There’s no interest from the AFL so I’m not going to be able to go any further.
“I might as well play local and try other things.’’
He said it was a difficult to decision to leave Port, whom he joined in 2015.
“Very tough, of course. Still might regret it. Don’t know yet. But I’m very happy with what I’ve achieved,’’ he said. “Unfortunately I couldn’t make it all the way, but I’m happy with my time.’’
Lange said the 2017 premiership was the obvious highlight of his time in the VFL.
This year he added the individual honours of being runner-up in the best and fairest, selection in the VFL team of the year and equal-fourth place in the JJ Liston Trophy.
They rewarded what he considered his best season in the VFL; he went out with form on his side.
After Lange’s best-afield performance in the draw against Williamstown in Round 11, Port coach Gary Ayres gushed: “He almost single-handedly got us over the line. It was one of the best games I’ve seen from a player, and one of the best I’ve seen in a long, long time. Just off the top of my head … 33 disposals, nine tackles, a great running goal, his clearance work, his takeaways. He was super.’’
It earned him the Frank Johnson Tribute Medal.
Lange, who played his 100th senior game late in the season, said he was appreciative of his involvement in the VFL, which began with a stint with Bendigo Gold.
Port has also lost 2017 premiership forward Blake Pearson (who has signed at Eastern club Norwood) and Khan Haretuku (Frankston Bombers).
Its signings include Frankston ruckman Mitch McCarthy, Box Hill Hawks premiership player Tom Maloney, St Paul’s East Bentleigh forward Harry Hunt and ex-Collingwood VFL pair Jack Blair (brother of Jarryd) and Tom Cameron.
The Borough are also in contention to sign Richmond VFL onballer Bailey Lambert, the son of former Tigers star Craig.
Meanwhile, Frankston suffered a blow when 2018 VFL team of-of-the-year small forward Corey Rich committed to Williamstown this week.
It followed ruckman McCarthy’s move to Port Melbourne and 2018 captain Blake Mullane’s switch to local club Frankston YCW.
More positively, captain Josh Newman, 2019 best and fairest Will Fordham, former AFL player Nathan Freeman, Aloysio Ferreira and Dylan Gordon have re-signed.