20 Dec Former Grubber Sneddon signs at Civilex
Incoming Werribee Centrals coach Nick Smith has confirmed the signing of former Ocean Grove big man Brayden Sneddon.
The 26-year-old who stands at 203cm returns to local football after a two year hiatus.
“Brayden knows a lot of the players at the club and the Centrals had a dip at recruiting him a few years back before he decided to go to Hoppers (Crossing) instead,” Smith said.
“He still has friends at the club now including our captain (Blake Quarrier) so we had a chat to him when he approached us.”
“We’re wrapped to sign him because at 26 he’s still very young but in our side’s case he’s one of the more experienced members of our group.”
Nick Smith returning to his former club on meet the coach night 27/09/2017.
Sneddon crossed from Hoppers Crossing to Ocean Grove in 2013 where he would play 15 of a possible 20 games.
He was named as the Grubbers’ best afield on debut against Drysdale before inspiring his side to a three-point elimination final win over Torquay.
The big man last called Melton (Ballarat FL) home from 2014-15 where he would play alongside a handful of players bound for the Civilex Oval including the late Jarryd Ramsay.
“He (Sneddon) took a two year break and when I asked him what he did during this time he claimed ‘to have enjoyed some fishing on his boat’ so he’s come off as a real country lad,” Smith said.
“There was a great chance that he was going to return to Hoppers but we had a younger group and a number one ruck mantle up for grabs; those points got us over the line.”
The signing has been a relief for Werribee fans following the injury (and retirement) of Stephen Morgan earlier in the year.
“We had players like Luke Cachia, Nathan Johnson and Jared Fletcher fill in the ruck throughout the 2017 season,” Smith recalled.
Jackson Smith (recruit), Nick Smith (coach), Ed Cachia (president) and Luke Cachia (utility) on meet the coach night 27/09/2017.
“On my first introduction night as coach the trio came up to me and explained that none of them were natural ruckmen because they were all mid-sized.”
Werribee will hope to get off to a strong start in 2018 when facing East Geelong (away), Inverleigh, Corio (away) and Geelong West (twilight).
The club has already re-signed 2017 senior best and fairest winner Bradley Carlton before adding Smith’s son Jackson – a highly credentialed midfielder standing at 190cm (read full story here).
“We’ve had ten training sessions already and we have averaged 30-40 numbers each night but this figure includes the Colts,” Smith said.
“We’ll return to the track on the Monday after the Australia day weekend.”
By Alex Tigani
GDFL Media (20/12/2017)
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