Twin City Wanderers sign promising goalkeeper Tal Wilson for 2021 AWFA season

The former Murray United and Boomers keeper has signed with the Wanderers and will become their first-choice shot-stopper.

Wilson impressed early in 2019 for Boomers when Matt Mildren missed several matches through injury, but was squeezed out of the starting 11 when he was back to full fitness.

The 18-year-old has no hard feelings with Boomers, but couldn't knock back the chance to be the number one keeper at Twin City.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity at Boomers to help me realise my potential and now I'm ready to play in the senior position regularly and get more and more experience every game," Wilson said.

"I found it hard in my years of goalkeeping to always strive to get the one position above you, but now that I'm here I'm very grateful for the opportunity and I hope to excel."

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Wilson has always had a natural ability to keep the ball out of the net with his quick reactions, but said his communication and foot skills have vastly improved.

"Being a goalkeeper, you need to know every position on the pitch and give instructions throughout the game," he said,

"Knowing what to say, knowing what to do and understanding people's roles is really important.

"As I've grown into the goalkeeping role, I've learnt the importance of using my feet and being that 11th player on the pitch.

"You're not just a goalkeeper any more, you need to be able to ping balls and hit targets which can turn into a goal.

"It's important to get the ball at your feet, be calm and collected and try to find the person you're looking for."

Twin City Wanderers coach Shaun Wilhelm has put to bed rumours the club won't field a senior side in 2021.

With uncertainty around the 2020 season, the Wanderers didn't plan to have a senior men's side if the league resumed after the initial COVID shutdown, but it was ultimately abandoned.

However, numbers have been strong at training in the pre-season and there's a buzz at Kelly Park.

"We only really pulled the pin last year because the season wasn't going ahead," Wilhelm said.

"It was never for numbers and at the end of the day it didn't go ahead anyway.

"We were always going to have a senior side this year.

"Even now people are still talking about it, but we've got two healthy squads."

Twin City takes on arch rivals Wodonga Diamonds in round one on March 14.

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