Stawell’s 2017 senior coach Tom Eckel will look to develop his football career in South Australia’s top domestic competition after leaving his hometown club during the off-season.
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The three-time club best and fairest joined South Australian National Football League club Glenelg in an attempt to further develop his young football career.
Eckel said it was a quick process to end up at the club.
“I had a friend playing up here who dropped my name to the footy department and that was about it,” he said.
“I came and had a crack and here I am.”
The former Stawell coach said the attraction of playing at a higher level drew him to moving to Glenelg.
“I have a pretty good coach with Mark Stone who used to coach at Fremantle and Sydney,” he said.
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can over here so one day when I do come back I can bring with me some knowledge and hopefully relay that.
“It is a really good footy club. It is a pretty young team and everyone has made me feel welcome.”
Eckel has played a crucial part for the Warriors in the last few years and was instrumental in leading Stawell to the preliminary finals in 2016 where they narrowly missed a grand final berth by three points.
He said there were “no hard feelings” after making the move.
“Stawell has been awesome to me and they were pushing me to have a crack and improve my footy,” he said.
“The club has been huge for me. I know I will always end up here one way or another.”
Stawell’s current coach Colin Macaffer said despite losing such a high quality player it is a good thing for the club.
“We are really excited for him to play in a much higher league,” he said.
“Having a young leader at the club go off and do this is inspiring for the younger players to show them anything is possible.
“Knowing Tommy he will give it his best shot and we wish him all the best.”
Eckel said he hopes his move can encourage the younger players at Stawell to continue to pursue their footballing dreams no matter their circumstances.
“A lot of kids give up if they don’t get picked in the rep squads. I never got picked in any of them but if you just stick at it the great people at the football club will be there to help you grow,” he said.
Eckel will play alongside fellow Wimmera footballer Chris Curran this season.
The former Horsham Demon will co-captain Glenelg in 2018.
The side will open its season against South Adelaide on Good Friday.
