FORMER Horsham RSL Diggers captain Justin Garth will don the blue, black and white of Minyip-Murtoa this season.
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Garth, who played his 150th senior game for the Diggers last year, said he was looking forward to the challenge at the Burras.
“It’s all pretty exciting,” he said.
“I know most of the blokes over there pretty well, and I went to school in Murtoa.”
“I just want to enjoy my footy again.”
Garth said it had been an extremely difficult decision to leave the Diggers, but he wanted to remain in the Wimmera league.
“I’m a life member there,” he said.
“It’s sort of the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make – I’ve been there for about 27 years.”
Burras coach Scott Arnold was delighted with the signing of the experienced utility.
“It’s fantastic for us and it’s great for the league,” he said.
“He was looking to stay in the major competition, so Natimuk wasn’t really an option for him.”
Arnold said the club made its move on the Diggers star – who has family ties to Minyip-Murtoa – after it found out the club wouldn’t be playing in the Wimmera league this season.
“We spoke to him, but we didn’t want him to leave United if they were still going to be in the competition,” he said.
“After we found out they weren’t, we spoke more.”
Garth will be joined at the Burras this season by two returning players, former Moulamein coach Chad Frost and Ballarat Swans tall Dan Smith.
“Last time Dan played for us he was in the ruck or a key position, so he’ll fill some similar sort of roles,” Arnold said.
He said he was hopeful of snaring another couple of recruits before the start of the season.
The club has been training three nights a week, with practice matches fast approaching against Noradjuha-Quantong on March 21 and Birchip-Watchem on March 29.
