By Russell Bennett
THAT winning feeling. It’s what every side chases on the final day of the season, but something that so few get to experience.
Kooweerup is one of the biggest and proudest clubs in the local area with one of the most loyal supporter bases, and yet the Demons haven’t tasted senior premiership success for 35 years.
But next season – the first of the re-formed West Gippsland competition – could be their breakthrough, particularly if their two newest recruits have anything to say about it.
Anthony Giuliano and Nathan Muratore have got seven senior premierships between them and they’re headed to the Demons’ den from Kooweerup’s most bitter recent rivals – three-time reigning premiers, Cora Lynn.
They can’t wait for a fresh challenge, and to deliver what they hope to be the ultimate success to the red and the blue.
Their records speak for themselves. Giuliano has been the Ellinbank and District Football League’s premier small forward over the past decade, while Muratore – still only 23 – proved himself to be one of the competition’s biggest weapons by foot. Combining his stints at Gembrook-Cockatoo and Mooroolbark to his time at Cora Lynn, he’s already played in seven senior grand finals so far. He’s simply lethal setting up play off half-back, but now he wants to evolve his game to a new level.
“It’s about the challenge – I feel like I started to go through the motions a little bit at Cora Lynn and Kooweerup offered me a really good opportunity to grow as a player and a person,” he said.
“I really want to grow as a midfielder and expand my game.
“I feel like it’ll be my ninth year of senior footy and eight years at half-back is probably enough. I can always go back to half-back, or anywhere, if they need me but definitely a midfield opportunity is a big part of me growing and still enjoying my footy.”
Muratore and great mate Giuliano have prepared themselves for some backlash for their move to the Demons, but they won’t be distracted by it.
“Things will happen and there’ll be a few things said, but I look forward to that and it’s all part of the challenge,” Muratore said.
“I thrive on stuff like that.”
Giuliano is approaching it in much the same manner.
“There’ll obviously be a bit of uproar about me leaving Cora Lynn and people will question loyalty but I’ve been there since I was 12 years old,” he said.
“I’ve got nothing to prove
“I’m happy with the decision. Some people won’t be happy, but they can’t question my loyalty.”
Giuliano will reunite with the Collins brothers at Kooweerup – Ben, Dave, and Mitch – who will also happen to be his brothers-in-law by the time next season rolls around.
Demons captain-coach Ben is thrilled to have signed players the calibre of Giuliano and Muratore.
“I am completely over the moon to get the calibre of these blokes into our football club,” he said.
“You look at the experience and the professionalism of these boys and realise what they can bring to our group.
“Nathan has proven over the past seven years what a quality player he is
“In my opinion he is one of the best players in the competition playing off half-back but I believe he can be just as good – if not better – playing in our midfield. We will team him up with the likes of Kezza (Ben Kerrigan), Timmy (Tim Miller), and Deece (Dave Collins) and I believe our midfield will be one of the strongest in the competition.
“He is hard-at-it, skilful and has a bit of prick in him which I love and he is only 23-years-old but plays as if he is 28 and in his peak.
“Giggz (Giuliano) is a guy I have known for a long time – first playing with him over 10 years ago and being involved in a premiership with him in 2008.
“Since then he has turned himself into possibly the best small forward this competition has seen in a long time and being a part of four senior premierships.
“Giggz also brings so much experience and most of all the small forward we have craved all last season. Lining him up next to Mitch (Collins) and (Daniel) Calteri he will have a field day at the big boys’ feet and will no doubt help our chances significantly in 2017.
“These two boys are not only great players but are good people with great character, which is something that the Kooweerup Football Club and myself, personally, hold higher than anything else. Knowing the group we have already at our club, they will fit in very well and will be welcomed with open arms.
“Obviously both boys have come over from a rival club and people may raise their eyebrows but in my opinion it just shows that we have a great culture and are on the right track to hopefully start getting some real success for Kooweerup.”
The early off-season signings haven’t stopped there at Kooweerup either with Norm Berry appointed as chairman of selectors for 2017.
“Norm has an enormous amount of experience in football over 30 years but more importantly he has been watching a lot of the opposition teams over the past few years and has a really good understanding of the level we are playing and what it will take for us to achieve success.”
