HAVING helped Leitchville-Gunbower snap a premiership drought of more than 20 years, star forward Matt Perri is now hoping he can do the same with Wallan.
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After spending the past four years dominating out of the goalsquare for the Bombers in the Heathcote District league, Perri is continuing his football career much closer to home with Wallan in the Riddell District league.
“I’ve been travelling for the past four years from Melbourne up to Leitchy and before that I had a year at Mitiamo,” Perri said on Wednesday.
“After five years of travel and having won a couple of premierships I thought the timing was right to play a bit closer to home alongside some good mates I have at Wallan.”
In his four seasons with the Bombers Perri kicked 342 goals – 59 in 2015, 81 in 2016, 124 in 2017 and 78 this year.
He played in a grand final every season he was at the Bombers, which included winning back-to-back flags in 2017 and this year.
“When I first signed with the club I didn’t think I’d be there for four years… I thought I might have got sick of the travel after two, but it just got better and better each year and it’s hard to leave,” Perri said.
“I probably take more out of building the friendships I have over the past four years than the premierships because I’ve got mates for life now.
“But logistically it’s time to give it a crack back down here.”
Wallan hasn’t won a senior premiership since 1992.
The Magpies are coached by Daniel Nolan, who Perri played in a premiership with at Pascoe Vale in 2011.
“It was a great feeling to win the the first premiership in a long time for Leitchy (22 years)… hopefully, I can accomplish something similar down here,” Perri said.
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