Kyabram District Football Netball League: Violet Town signs Josh Mellington
One of country football’s most prolific goalkickers has gone back to Violet Town, where he played in an under-18s premiership at the age of 14.
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The locals at Violet Town haven’t seen Josh Mellington for a while.
But he’s back in town, you might say, and he’s a supreme recruit for the Kyabram District league club.
Mellington was 14 when he figured in VT’s Under 18 premiership in 2008, and he played in another grand final in 2009.
Then it was back to his first club, Benalla, and on to the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC Cup, where he led the club goalkicking and was fourth in the Morrish Medal.
His rise continued all the way to the top when Fremantle drafted him in 2010.
His three seasons with the Dockers produced six games.
In the years since Mellington has kicked goals at a furious rate, reaching the century for three teams.
The Towners hope he’ll make it four next year when he returns to play with a few of his former Under 18 teammates still with the club.
One of them is Nick Abley, the son of Violet Town director of football Gary Abley.
“The boys all went to school together in Benalla, and him and Nick have always been good mates,’’ Abley said.
“They’ve been talking and he was happy to come to us and have a no-stress year.
“We’re pretty lucky to get him when you think of what he’s done in the major (country) leagues.’’
Abley has sharp memories of Mellington’s two years with the Violet Town thirds, describing him as a “very clever half forward and forward pocket, a little ball-getter’’.
He said it was no surprise Mellington went on to play league football.
“He was always talented at any sport he touched, right from a young age. He made all the rep sides in cricket too,’’ Abley said.
VT finished down the list in 2019 and was keen to recruit a key forward. It signed Willie Farrer from the Northern Territory for the 2020 season that didn’t eventuate because of COVID-19.
Farrer is also a century goalkicker but in Mellington the Towners have gained a player who kicked the ton at Benalla in 2015, Albury in 2016 and Echuca United in 2019. He also booted 99 goals for Albury in 2017.
The left-footer signed at Essendon VFL for 2014 and when he wasn’t required by the Bombers he returned to Benalla to boot 56 goals from 13 games.
Mellington will play at VT under the coaching of Joel Price, who crossed from Henty in the Hume league and brought former Brisbane Lion Jared Brennan with him, another coup for the club.
Price replaces Sean Horsborough, who had been at the helm for the previous six years, making him the club’s longest serving coach.
Horsborough will play on next year and will reach his 300th game for the club. “He’s a very loyal bloke,’’ Abley said.
Violet Town last raised a flag in 2012, when it went through the season without blemish under former Melbourne player Hayden Lamaro.
Abley said the club was in a “pretty good position’’ despite the coronavirus pandemic.
“At the same time it has hurt us. Like all clubs we haven’t been able to get any revenue in for the last six months,’’ he said. “But the whole town has suffered … if you don’t have a footy club and a pub the town really struggles.
“It was a shame we couldn’t play because we were primed to have a real crack at it. There was a fair bit of excitement around. Sponsorship was up, memberships were up. Our sponsors have been really loyal. The majority of them have stayed on board regardless. We’re OK without being over the top. We’re sound, anyway.’’
Abley owns the Violet Town Café – “best coffees in the state,’’ he said – and it’s where he signs the sponsors, members and players.
Mellington is his major signing and Abley quipped that if Violet Town was to win the flag next year the former Docker would qualify as a “local’’.
“He’s more Benalla, there’s no doubt about that, but we’ll take him,’’ he said. “He’s certainly got ties here, put it that way.’’
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