Ocean Grove has added some vital experience as it looks to climb out of the lower reaches of the ladder following the signing of Gus Bourke from Hampden League preliminary finalist Terang Mortlake.
Bourke, the cousin of Grubbers co-coach Nick, returns to the Bellarine after a 10-year absence, having spent two seasons with Anglesea.
He played 154 senior games in the Hampden League across Terang Mortlake and Camperdown, in addition to his 28 with the Roos in 2014-15.
“We sat down towards the end of the year and nutted out what we felt like we were lacking, and experience is definitely one area,” Nick Bourke said.
“We felt like we were in a lot of games through the year with a young group.
“As the top enders do, they have so much experience and just know how to win.
“So to add someone like that, as well as others that we’ve added throughout the pre-season, he’s going to be invaluable.
“He’s played a lot of high-level footy, and he’s still got a lot of footy left in him.”
Bourke’s arrival marks the first time the pair, born less than 12 months apart, grew up together in the Western District town of Noorat.
“It’s going to be a pretty cool experience,” Nick Bourke said.
“I know mum and dad and his dad, ‘Punk’, they’ve all been on the phone to each other already saying how they’re going to get down to a few more games.
“So, yeah, it’s definitely going to be a pretty cool experience to play with a cousin I’ve never been able to play with.”
Gus Bourke spent most of his time at Terang Mortlake playing as a half-back.
However, Nick Bourke believes his cousin could fill multiple roles at Ray Menzies Oval.
“He can go forward… he’d be about 190cm,” Nick Bourke said. “He can go through the midfield.
“He’s put a bit of size on in the gym as well.
“He can play key position, but his foot skills are as good as I’ve seen.
“To be able to get the ball in his hands and let him run and carry off the half-back line is probably where we see him at the minute.”
The addition of Bourke continues Ocean Grove’s fruitful off-season.
The club has welcomed back former captain Joe McDonald and signed WAFL premiership player Taj Wyburd, among several other handy additions.
“Everyone thinks they’re going well this time of the year, but I feel like from this time last year, we’re miles ahead as a group,” Nick Bourke said.
“There’s just a really good feeling around the club. The netball’s been flying for a few years, and we’re looking to just slowly climb our way up the ladder and start to push ourselves against the top sides.”
The Grubbers will play practice matches against GDFNL clubs East Geelong and Anakie and Hampden League duo Koroit and Warrnambool before travelling to Modewarre to open their season on April 5.
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