CLASSY midfielder Shannon Gilson has shelved retirement plans and will play for the Murray Magpies this season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Gilson, who last year won the Upper Murray league best and fairest with Corryong, was happy to retire after the Demons went down in the decider against Cudgewa.
But the 34-year-old said some consistent badgering over the summer from Magpies coach Corey Lambert and lanky defender Trent Logue had forced him to reconsider.
“I was basically retir- ed,” Gilson said.
“But I had a bit of a run around with my old mate Loguey (Trent) in a practice game and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.
“Everyone keeps telling me you are a long time retired.
“I’ve done a lot more fitness work this year than I did last year and feel like I’m getting across the ground all right.
“I’ve had discussions with the Magpies for the past couple of years and with Lambo at the helm, I thought why not?”
Gilson will be reunited with Lambert for the first time since the pair played in North Albury’s most recent flag in 2002 when Lambert was playing coach of the Hoppers.
“I still rate Lambo as one of the better coaches I’ve had throughout my career,” he said.
“He really makes you think about your footy, which I like, and at training you are not just running from hat to hat.”
After making the finals just once since crossing from the Coreen league in 2007, the Magpies are widely tipped to be one of the league’s big improvers.
With the arrival of high-profile recruit Josh Maher alongside Alex Freeman, Danyl Woods, Ash Murray, Adam Pris- cina and Adam Smith, the Magpies boast a list capable of qualifying for their first finals series since 2010.
Gilson said the pre-season form of ruckman DJ Oates, who played a handful of matches in the reserves last season, could prove to be the missing piece in the Magpies’ finals puzzle.
“I think last year was a stepping stone to bigger things this season,” he said.
“The vibe around the club is fantastic and they are getting things right off the field as well, which is always important.”
The Magpies face last season’s grand finalist Rand-Walbundrie at Rand on Saturday, which Gilson rated as an ideal test to start the season.
“Taking on a top-two team from last year will give us a real indication of where we are at,” he said.
“If we get things right and win, well and good.
“But if we don’t, you can always improve for another go later in the year.”
