VFL: Michael Searl a North Ballarat Rooster once more

By Melanie Whelan
Updated November 2 2012 - 6:10pm, first published November 27 2011 - 12:53pm
Michael Searl is looking forward to returning to the VFL. Picture: Kate Healy
Michael Searl is looking forward to returning to the VFL. Picture: Kate Healy

DUAL premiership player Michael Searl has arrived back to the North Ballarat Roosters.Searl was keen to get started in his first training session on Friday night after a two-year hiatus from the Victorian Football League to work and travel overseas.The 27-year-old said it was good to see some familiar faces about the locker room.But there were a lot of new faces in the playing group, too.“My first night back and I feel a bit like the new guy,” Searl said before hitting the track.“It’s all exciting and I’m looking to get my body back into shape for another year in the VFL.“... I’m pretty sure I’ll blow out a few cobwebs tonight.”The centre half-back was pivotal in the Roosters’ historic first premiership in 2008 and again in 2009.Searl has played 99 VFL senior games and was the joint 2008 best and fairest.He said it felt different to return to the club as one of the older, more experienced, players after having so many other players he looked up to when he was last at the club.Searl is the second Roosters’ premiership player to return to the club for season 2012.Key forward Paul McMahon, who played in the Roosters’ 2008 and 2009 flags, rejoined the squad earlier this month after a two-year break.McMahon ventured back to his home club Lake Wendouree in a bid to help the Lakers win a Ballarat Football League premiership.He achieved this in 2010, taking out the BFL’s best and fairest honour, the Henderson Medal, in the same season.Searl was eager to get back into training and playing at a high level after playing only a handful of social matches for the London Wildcats the past couple of years.Based in the English capital as a teacher, Searl travelled Europe with Roosters premiership players Dan Feery and Stevie Dinnell.He was re-introduced to the playing group in a team meeting on Friday night. On the same night the club welcomed back Searl, triple premiership ruckman Orren Stephenson made his farewell.Stephenson was drafted to reigning AFL premier Geelong in Thursday night’s national draft.

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