CAMERON Domaschenz, 34, didn’t start off as a footballer – the Edenhope-Apsley full-forward began his sporting life as a hockey player and golfer.
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When Domaschenz turned 20, he decided to give up golf because he didn’t think the social scene was strong enough, and chose to learn how to play football.
“My family was always involved in hockey so I played that until I was 13 and then started playing golf. Those two sports don’t mix very well, I broke a school friends nose with a hockey ball, had to make a decision and played golf,” he said.
“There was no social side in the golf club at Edenhope, no young people anyway. The older players didn’t want to play with you when you were learning and didn’t want to play with you when you got better than them.”
Being a bit of a late bloomer to the sport, Domaschenz said he was primarily given tagging roles by his coaches.
Domaschenz said he had no clue what he was doing when he started playing football.
“We were still in the Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara league at that stage. Aaron Langsworth started coaching and I was given tagging jobs, trying to learn how to follow the footy,” he said.
“I picked footy up pretty quick just because I got to play on some fairly good players. It was more the process of getting the ball yourself after I learnt how to follow the footy. That was the tricky part.”
Domaschenz said Langsworth was one of the best coaches he had worked with.
Domaschenz said he thought not playing junior football had helped the longevity of his senior career.
“A fair few of my school mates say their bodies are buggered because they played footy all their life. They’ve all finished,” he said.
Domaschenz played the 2016 and 2017 season in reserves, but told Chris Oliver he would play for the senior team if he coached in 2018.
“If he came back I told him I would play for him,” he said.
Domaschenz said he had played in two grand final losses for the Saints, one in Kowree-Naracoorte-Tatiara A Grade while Cobba Cassidy coached and the Horsham District league reserves grand final in 2017.
“Last year was a highlight for the fact that we knocked out an undefeated Harrow side, which was pretty tidy. They flogged us during the season and we caught them a bit off guard with our physicality in the final,” he said.
“I’m a social lad, that’s pretty much the only reason I play footy. You don’t see many people when you’re farming and shearing. You’re a long time watching so I’ll keep doing it while I can.”
Domaschenz said he has played most of his footballing career for the Saints, he spent one season at Natimuk.
“Whenever Brett Whitley coached there, it was roughly five years ago, could have been more,” he said.
Domaschenz said the 2018 senior team is full of Edenhope and Apsley born players, with the exception of Damian Monaghan and coach Chris Oliver.