Former Horsham Demon Ryan Kemp has earned a spot in the VFL with the Werribee Tigers for the 2019 football season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wimmera Football League's 2018 Toohey Medalist has been training with the Tigers for several months hoping to earn a spot.
Kemp said he was absolutely stoked to make the squad of 45 and to be rewarded for his hard work.
"I've just been doing a hell of a lot of travelling, going up and back [from Beaufort to Werribee] for training, three hours each way," Kemp said. "But all of that travelling has paid off, and now I can move up there and just enjoy getting stuck in."
Kemp impressed in Werribee's intra-club practice match on Friday night last week, the final chance to impress selectors before the squad was finalised.
"It took me a while to get into it and adjust," Kemp said. "But then in the second half I kicked three goals, so I think that sort of cemented my place and showed that I can contribute."
Kemp will be coached by former AFL premiership coach Mark "Choco" Williams, who is head coach at the Tigers for 2019.
Williams coached Port Adelaide to a premiership in 2004 and was assistant at the Richmond Tigers when they won a premiership in 2017.
Kemp also said it was surreal to brush shoulders with the likes of former AFL player Michael Barlow, who has returned to Werribee for 2019 after retiring from the AFL last season.
Kemp said his next goal was to push for a spot in the side for its season opener against North Melbourne on April 5.
"We've got a practice match next weekend against the Western Bulldogs and if I play well - if I kick a few goals and show some good poise - I reckon I'll be a fair chance [for round one]," he said.
"But you never know."
While Kemp was optimistic about finding a spot in the team, he said he was determined not to let it slip once he was given his chance.
"When I was in the TAC Cup, I played the first three rounds and then got dropped for the year," he said.
"I know that once you have the opportunity and you don't do well, it's really hard to get back in.
"Now that I've got another opportunity, I just want to 100 per cent cement my spot. There are 100 other blokes looking for the same chance.
"I just want to seize it and really cement myself in the squad."
Kemp will move to Melbourne and will change his feeder club to Victorian Amateur Football Association side St Kevin's, joining fellow former Horsham player John Wood for matches when he isn't named in the VFL team.