Winchelsea will enter the 2025 season without captain Tom Stephenson after the highly-respected leader announced his retirement last week.
New Blues coach Ben Moloney revealed to K rock Football that Stephenson had addressed the playing group to tell them he was hanging up the boots.
“Family and work has probably taken over,” Moloney said. “It creeps on you, and it definitely happens at some point.
“I know Tom would love to keep playing, but there are things in life that take over from footy, and he’s got to prioritise them a bit more.”
Stephenson played early underage football at Eastern Reserve before joining nearby Colac and District club Birregurra at under-14.5 level.
He made his senior debut in 2012 and played 102 senior games for the Saints, including their 2016 and 2017 premierships.
Stephenson returned to Winchelsea in 2022, making 44 appearances for the Navy Blues.
Moloney hopes to find a non-playing role for him this year.
“He’s been great to deal with,” Moloney said.
“He’s a competitive beast. He did say that he’s not going to do the running this year because he’ll get too invested, and his white-line fever might come out.
“So we’ll have to hopefully find another role for him if we can.”
Stephenson is one of four confirmed departures from Winchelsea, joining Jordan Gould (Tantanoola), Tom Moloney (Grovedale), and Adam Walsh (Ocean Grove).
However, the Blues have attracted more than a dozen new or returning faces, including former captain Alex Gubbins, Indi Parish (Colac Imperials), Tyler Beasley (Kolora-Noorat) and Cam Primmer (North Shore).
Primmer looms as a wildcard for Winchelsea.
He was a prolific goalkicker at reserve grade level for South Barwon, tallying 89 goals in 28 games, before heading to Windsor Park.
At the Seagulls, Primmer spent more time in defence.
“When we realised he did have that ability to go forward, we pursued him a bit harder,” Moloney said.
“Prim’s got some real talent. He’s a basketballer, so he’s got some tricks
“And the way he moves on the ground is awesome.”
Winchelsea will play two practice matches, including against Yackandandah on Saturday, March 8, at Eastern Reserve, before its Round 1 meeting with Inverleigh.
The clash with the Tallangatta and District club is the second meeting between the Blues and the Roos since the death of Ed Smith in late 2023.
“It’s nice to continue that tradition against Yackanadandah in memory of Ed,” Moloney said.
“The president reached out to me really early, and I was all for it,”
“One thing I talked to the group about when I first signed on was continuing Ed’s memory and legacy.”
“So to have Yack come on board and want to play a practice match, I was really keen on.”
Meanwhile, Corio has unveiled its latest recruit, welcoming decorated veteran Russell Cowan to Shell Reserve.
Cowan, who tasted premiership success with fellow Devils newcomers Chris Moreland and Jarrod Bayliss at Powelltown, arrives from Upper Ferntree Gully.
He is a multiple interleague representative across the Yarra Valley Mountain District, Yarra Ranges, and Gippsland leagues.
X: @krockfootball
