Former Essendon speedster Jason Winderlich has fallen back in love with the game having returned to country football after his AFL career was cut short by injury amid the infamous Essendon drugs saga.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Winderlich will pull on the boots for Carngham-Linton on Saturday to help out close friend and current Bombers VFL captain Nick O’Brien. O’Brien played at the Saints as a junior and formed a strong bond with Winderlich at the Bombers.
Winderlich, who played 129 games across 13 years at the Bombers, returned to country football last year to play for Traralgon. He said returning to the local leagues had reignited his love for the game and was relishing simply playing for the enjoyment and comradery that country football brings.
“After a few tough years and the way it finished up at Essendon it was good to get back and fall in love with the game again,” Winderlich said.
“That’s why I’ve really enjoyed it. Win, lose or draw you can crack a can in the rooms, talk about the game and enter the social rooms with everybody.
“Just worrying about playing...you rock up, play, have fun, it’s not life or death.
“At the end of the day, it’s something that brings the community together.”
Winderlich said he was looking forward to Saturday’s clash against Buninyong and helping out O’Brien’s home club, but added if he were to return to country football it would be at Traralgon.
The 32-year-old is currently focused on getting his business up and running, but said there was a chance he’d take to field in the back-end of the year.
“I always said I wouldn’t play country footy for the first half of the year...I started my own business.
“If I do play in the second half of the year, it would be at Traralgon, I’m not the type of person who wants to change country clubs every year.”
The ex-Essendon duo will be joined by champion Dustin Fletcher, who will help out in the coaches box and attend the Saturday’s sportsman’s night. There is still a number of tickets available for the sportsman’s night at Snake Valley Hall where the three former Bombers will be guest speakers. For tickets contact president Sam Richardson 0418 856 047