A FAMILY connection dating back 80 years and a chance to play with good mates has helped East Geelong lure Jack Beardsell to the club.
Beardsell has spent the past two seasons at Bellarine club Modewarre after 111 senior games at St Albans in the GFNL.
He also spent the 2016 season with rival GDFNL club Anakie.
First-year Eagles coach Tom Cordner-Maas said Beardsell would be a welcome addition at Richmond Crescent.
“He’s got a few mates that play for us at the moment; Zac Smith and Jake Watson-Serle,” Cordner-Maas said.
“He’s been on our radar most of this season, to be honest. We got in contact with him, and it all happened pretty quickly.
“We were really keen to have him, and he was happy to come across and play with his mates.
“And there’s the family history as well. So it was the perfect fit.”
Beardsell’s link to East Geelong stretches back to the late 1940s, with great-grandfather Bill Trebilcock guiding the club to three consecutive Evelyn Hurst premierships between 1946-48.
His dad Andrew (Midge) spent a season with the then-named Eastern Suburbs in 1996, while great uncles Lenny, Bert and Kevin Beardsell pulled on the maroon and gold.
Cordner-Maas believes Beardsell’s versatility will be important for the Eagles as they look to improve on this year’s preliminary final exit in 2023.
“I feel like I can use him all over the ground,” he said. “He’s quick; he’s got great skills.
“We could use him as a running half-back, a dangerous forward, or a midfielder.
“He’s huge for us.”
East has been busy re-signing its list for next year, with the club confirming several either side of its season-ending loss to Bannockburn.
However, the Eagles will be without key forward Brent McGrath, who will be overseas for the 2023 season.
Cordner-Maas is hoping to cover his unavailability through recruiting.
“Brent’s a massive loss for us,” he said. “He’s a great key forward
“He had some really good games where he kept us in those games.”
“But, we’ve got a few names that we’re looking at, and hopefully, we snag one of them.”
Twitter: @krockfootball
