PAUL McMahon can play himself into Ballarat football history in Saturday’s Central Highlands Football League grand final.
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McMahon can become the first to be a senior premiership player on Ballarat’s three major football stages – North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL, the Ballarat Football League and CHFL.
McMahon lines up for Springbank against Bungaree at his former football home, Eureka Stadium.
His golden touch began in 2008 with the Roosters. The premiership came in his first year with North Ballarat after crossing from his home club, Lake Wendouree.
McMahon had been on the Roosters recruiting radar for some time, but he had been reluctant to make the move given his strong ties at the Lakers.
The arrival of the classy half forward filled one of the last pieces of the jigsaw as North Ballarat found itself firmly in the premiership window.
As well as premiership medallion, McMahon was named the Roosters’ best first-year player. If one was not enough, McMahon made it two in a row in VFL ranks with North Ballarat in 2009.
Still a Laker at heart and having been part of history in the VFL, the lure of playing in Lake Wendouree’s first BFL grand final was too much.
Again, he was in the right place at the right time in 2010. As well as being instrumental in the premiership triumph, he was judged the BFL’s best by being the Henderson Medallist.
By McMahon’s standards, it has been a drought since – coming up empty at Lake Wendouree, North Ballarat and Springbank.
All that can change on Saturday afternoon though with McMahon due and Springbank well overdue.