Decorated football journeyman Shannon Broadbent is taking his golden touch to Melton South.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Panthers have signed the much-travelled veteran, who has played in a string of premierships, as part of their rebuilding in the Ballarat Football League.
Broadbent heads to Melton South after one year with Bendigo league club Kangaroo Flat.
Joint coach Sean Triplett, who has been appointed alongside former Carlton champion goalkicker Brendan Fevola to lead a Panthers revival, said Broadbent’s experience would be invaluable to a largely young list.
Although Broadbent is in the twilight of his career, Triplett said the 36-year-old still had much to offer.
“He’s super tough – hard at the ball.”
Triplett said Broadbent was looking to finish his career playing alongside his step brother Jordan Madafferi, who was already at Melton South.
Broadbent joins Fevola and Aberfeldie star Mark Lynch as major recruits for Melton South, which failed to win a game this year – with the expectation of more high profile names to come.
Broadbent is best known for his deeds in the Essendon District Football League, but his reputation as a champion player goes well beyond that.
He is a six-time premiership player with Tullamarine (EDFL - 2003), Maribyrnong Park (EDFL – 2009 and 2010), Tatura (Goulburn Valley league – 2012) and Deer Park (Western Region league – 2013 and 2015.
His individual honours are underlined by eight best and fairests, including the WRFL’s top honour.
As well as his premiership teams, Broadbent has also played with Strathmore, Keilor Park and West Meadows in the EDFL.
Triplett said with Melton South coming from such a low base – four wins in the past three seasons – it was imperative to recruit aggressively if it was to firstly be competitive and then successful.
Melton South joined the BFL in 1997, crossing from the Riddell District league with Darley, Melton and Sunbury, and is the only one of the quartet not to win a premiership in the competition. The Panthers last played in a grand final in 2001.