Yarrawonga signs ex-Williamstown-listed player Nick Fothergill

The 27-year-old also spent time with Williamstown and although he never played a senior game, the Seagulls rated his leadership so highly he captained the club in a pre-season match.

"He's got leadership experience, he's been in leadership groups most of his career," Pigeons' football director Leigh Ramsdale offered.

The 176cm midfielder started his senior career with junior outfit Numurkah, before joining the Demons in the NEAFL, where he shared the top award on debut with ex-Adelaide Crows' rookie Ben Dowdell in 2015.

He returned to Numurkah and won the two best and fairests in his stint as an assistant coach and then took the plunge to state level.

"I've always had the philosophy with football of trying to get the best out of yourself," he suggested.

Current Yarrawonga players Willie Wheeler and Leigh Masters were then stars at Williamstown and after his time in the VFL, Fothergill joined Tatura for 2021.

He's represented the Goulburn Valley and Murray leagues.

A carpenter, Fothergill will build a house in Yarrawonga.

"It's not just the footy side of things, it's the town itself, it's a very attractive town and people want to come here, Nick's bought into the community," Ramsdale said.

"On the footy side, he's a good ball user and decision maker. One of our focus areas was we turned the footy over a fair bit last season, he can find the footy and he uses it pretty well."

Next year is crucial for the Pigeons after falling to second last during the COVID season.

Boom recruit Wheeler never played due to foot surgery and the club lost the first five games.

ALSO IN SPORT

"What could have gone wrong did go wrong and obviously it was a tough initiation for (first-year coach) Mark Whiley and as a club we need to take some pressure off," Ramsdale revealed.

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