Sebastopol has further bolstered its list with the signing of AFL-experienced Matt Austin and emerging young ruckman Nick Hausler.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Austin and Hausler continue the movement of players from the VFL’s disbanded North Ballarat Roosters into the Ballarat Football League.
They join another Roosters teammate Tony Lockyer at Sebastopol, which is working to lift itself off the bottom of the ladder.
And like Lockyer, Austin is a former North Ballarat co-captain who will provide additional on-field leadership.
Austin, who is originally from Stawell and played 15 games with the Brisbane Lions in 2009-11 after being drafted via the North Ballarat Rebels, is not completely new to Sebastopol.
He has had the Burra as a home club for three seasons while in the VFL, with 28-year-old playing with the club three times in 2015 when returning from injury.
Hausler is making a switch from Redan, which was home club this year.
The Koroit export joined the Roosters via the Rebels in 2016 and this year played 11 VFL games plus seven with Redan, including two finals.
Sebastopol board member Darren Hammill said adding Austin and Hausler to the previous signing of Lockyer was massive for the club.
He said they provided enormous momentum and reinforced confidence in the direction the club was taking.
Austin, who spent six seasons with the Roosters, said he was looking forward to the challenge of working to help Sebastopol become more competitive.
“I’m excited by the prospect of being part of it.”
He said seeing Lockyer commit to the Burra has also been a factor in persuading him to move to the Marty Busch Reserve.
Austin said with work commitments in Ballarat, continuing in the VFL elsewhere had not been an option for him.
He said after spending virtually all his football life in elite programs moving into community football was appealing.