Grovedale Tigers lose GFL goal kicker Tom Gillett after teenager accepts job in Western Australia

Grovedale’s chances of playing finals football in 2023 have taken a massive hit after one of the league’s best talents has moved interstate.

GFL:Senior Football Grovedale v South Barwon. Grovedale goal to 18 Tom Gillett Picture: Mark Wilson

GROVEDALE coach Daniel Fraser has confirmed the departure of one of the Tigers’ best players, with Tom Gillett leaving the club just weeks out from the start of the season.

The GFL’s leading goal kicker in 2021 will move to Western Australia after accepting a job interstate, and will play his football for Boulder City.

Fraser said he hoped the star forward would return to the Tigers in the future.

“We always knew at some stage we weren’t going to have him because we thought he was going to spend a bit of time with Geelong’s VFL side,” he said.

Tom Gillett has left Grovedale ahead of the 2023 season. Picture: Alan Barber

“We had a bit of a plan B, it was a bit up in the air on how much we were going to see him but he got an opportunity from a working point of view to head over to WA.

“He came to us in December with his plans to move over, we’ve been working with him and it’s all been finalised in the past week, so we’ve known about it for a while.

“He was upfront with it and he’s gone with our best wishes, we understand why he’s done it so there’s no issues from us, we’re just waiting for him to come back.

“When he makes the decision to come back we’ll certainly welcome him back with open arms.”

Gillett dominated the competition in his first year of senior footy in 2021, piling on 42 goals in just nine games to lead the league for the season.

The teenagers availability was limited in 2022 after playing as a top-ager for Geelong Falcons, but still managed 17 majors in five games for the representative side.

Gillett was Covid top-up player for Geelong in the 2022 season, showing the teenager was on the radar of VFL and AFL clubs, but the sharpshooter has chosen not to pursue that pathway for 2023.

The 19-year-old star told the Kalgoorlie Miner he had not given up on future AFL opportunities.

Gillett kicked 42 goals in nine games in 2021. Picture: Mark Wilson

“I definitely haven’t put a line through that and if the opportunities come, I’m not going to back down,” he said.

“For now, I’m happy to be living and working here and really enjoying my footy with new teammates.

“I wouldn’t say there’s any pressure there, as opposed to going with a positive mindset of getting to know everyone at the club, playing games with solid intent and hopefully winning them.”

Grovedale’s forward line had already taken a massive hit, with Flynn Young moving to Newtown & Chilwell during the pre-season.

Fraser said Young’s departure hurt the structure of the forward line more than Gillett’s did.

“Flynn leaving probably hurts us a little bit more, but in reality Tom only played three games with us last year,” he said.

“We didn’t see a lot of him with his Falcons commitments and his injuries, so in terms of impact from results from last year not having Tom is going to be minimal.”

Originally published as Grovedale Tigers lose GFL goal kicker Tom Gillett after teenager accepts job in Western Australia