Bombers coup

By Luke West
Updated November 6 2012 - 10:39pm, first published November 27 2008 - 10:41am

THE Bendigo Bank Bombers have secured one of country Victoria’s most renowned midfielders for the 2009 VFL season.The Bombers have landed the signature of former Seymour ball-magnet Paul Scanlon.Scanlon has built up an impressive country football CV that has included two Goulburn Valley Football League premierships with Seymour, as well as representing Victoria Country at the Australian Country Football Championships.The 30-year-old was also the vice-captain of the Victoria Country team that played the Victorian Amateurs in their bi-annual clash at Ballarat in 2007.His last game was a 43-possession best-on-ground performance for the Lions in their three-point loss to Rochester in this year’s grand final.“It’s a big deal for the club to sign Paul,’’ Bombers coach Adrian Hickmott said yesterday.“He has played for Vic Country, he is a 30-year-old, has a strong body, is a beautiful kick and there are great wraps on him in terms of his work ethic and leadership.“There’s no doubt he’s going to be fantastic for the Bendigo Bombers and he’s just really keen to have a go at playing VFL football at this stage of his career.“I think as a 30-year-old it’s nearly the best age to play football because you know a lot, you speak up a lot more and you have obviously played a lot of footy in that time.’’The Bombers are also in talks with mercurial Seymour forward Saad Saad, who has kicked bags of 109, 100, 92 and 99 goals for the Lions in the past four years.Also joining the Bombers is former Maryborough captain Joel Malone, who is regarded as one of the top midfielders in the Bendigo Football-Netball League.“Joel is really fit and training hard with us, so we’re really excited to have him,’’ Hickmott said.“He’s really keen as a 24-year-old to have a crack with us.’’As well as signing Scanlon and Malone, the Bombers have also appointed former Carlton player Darren Hulme as their midfield coach in what is a further coup.Hulme, 31, played 110 games for the Blues between 1997 and 2004 as a tenacious on-baller.“We’re very proud to have Darren as our assistant coach,’’ Hickmott said.“Darren initially only got asked to train at Carlton; he worked hard from there, got himself on the rookie list, then the senior list and went on to play 110 AFL games, which was a fantastic effort.“He’s just a real good bloke to have on board in terms of teaching and helping young players in the midfield.’’Hulme is also considering playing for the Bombers next season, which would further bolster the midfield and provide some valuable experience.“He’s training at the moment and he looks fit enough, but we will just see what happens with that,’’ Hickmott said.The Bombers have a pre-season squad of 70 players training in Bendigo, Shepparton, Melbourne and Maryborough.“We want a list of 44 players, and with so many training, players are going to have to be really up to it to make the list,’’ Hickmott said.The 2009 VFL fixture was released last week, with the Bombers to open their season against the Northern Bullants at Visy Park on Sunday, April 12.

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