The history which helped tiny Tassie club lure Qld captain
They may be a small, third tier team, but club history has helped an NTFA outfit sign the current Queensland captain. Read how the coup unfolded.
New Bridport coach Josh Whelan is still pinching himself.
Recruiting current Queensland captain Will Fletcher is something the tiny NTFA division two club normally couldn’t contemplate, but family connections have helped make that pipe dream a reality.
Fletcher, a long-time Sherwood star in the QAFL who also skippered Queensland against Tasmania at Latrobe earlier this year, is close to fellow Seagulls recruit Samuel Blackberry.
Blackberry is the grandson of the club’s founding members Maurice and Molly Blackberry. After he signed from Noosa Tigers, Fletcher also opted for a change of scenery and will join him at Bridport next season.
It was basically a case of you miss every shot you don’t take. Club secretary Kristy Mountney was relentless in encouraging the pair to make the move, and persistence paid off.
“Originally I was trying to get him to play at Noosa,” Blackberry said.
“Kristy asked him (Fletcher) and I said ‘I’ll do it if you do it’.
“I just wanted to help out where I could and to experience something different.”
Star midfielder Fletcher is surely the club’s best-ever import given he’s a five-time QAFL team of the year member, a five-time Sherwood best and fairest winner and captained his state.
Whelan said the small town of just 1700 people, not just the club, is buzzing about the unexpected recruiting coup.
“All they want to do is play footy together, it’s special for the club,” Whelan said.
“Obviously we’re pretty secluded out here at Bridport, but the club works really hard to try and get players and to get these guys together is a massive coup.
“From a resume point of view he (Fletcher) have to be up the top (of the club’s best recruits). We’ve had some quality people and humans, we also go out to recruit good human beings, but he’d have to be at the top in terms of a playing perspective.
“Will and Sam are best mates and have always had the ambition to play football together. Sam has had the ambition to play for Bridport because of those family connections.
“To say I’m happy is an understatement, Pottsy (former coach Andrew Philpott) is a little bit jealous. He did ring me and (jokingly) ask if he could have the job back.”
Fletcher guided Queensland to a 38-point win over Tasmania in July, which helped convince him about the merits of living in the state.
“I’m mainly coming down with Sammy because of their history with him,” Fletcher said.
“I played all my junior football with Sam at Sherwood, and his dad (Mark) was my first coach.
“Sam had injuries and went away for work so I’ve always wanted to play some senior games with him.”
Fletcher said he knows little about the league, but was looking forward to immersing himself in a small community.
The fact he and Blackberry are both keen fishermen also helped lure them to the Seagulls.
“Sammy and I love our fishing and we’ve been sent pictures of big tuna, we’ll be having a crack at them for sure,” Fletcher said.
“I don’t know much about the league at all, to be honest. I know there used to be the TSL and they split north-south, and with the VFL team coming in a lot of people will be attracted to Tassie to try and play in that.
“I’ve been talking to the people at Bridport a lot, I’ve heard nothing but good things and it’s a tight knit community.
“Hopefully I can bring some success on the field, but also get around just Bridport itself when we’re not playing.”
The Seagulls finished fifth of seventh teams in division two this year, but key position player Blackberry is also a huge addition.
After taking an eight year break from the game, Blackberry has played reserves for Noosa the past two years.
“I had a fairly rough run with injuries. I was going through the Lions Academy up until under-16s and got osteitis pubis and a few other things,” he said.
“But I decided to strap the boots on at Noosa and have another crack.”
