By Ben Waterworth (Twitter: @bjwaterworth)
ROWVILLE will be boosted by the return of star wingman turned forward Matt Robinson for its assault on Division 1 in 2014.
The 25-year-old returns to the Hawks – pending a transfer – after four outstanding seasons with Cora Lynn in the Ellinbank and District Football League.
Robinson kicked 228 goals from 67 games with the Cobras from 2010 to 2013.
However he believes the time is right to return to Seebeck Oval.
“I enjoyed my time at Cora Lynn, but l was always going to come home and play here at Rowville,” Robinson told rowvillefc.org.au.
Robinson was on the lips of nearly every Division 2 pundit in the late 2000’s.
Following stints with the Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup) and Box Hill Hawks (VFL), Robinson returned to Rowville in 2008. He had a blinder of a season, kicking 30 goals and earning eight best player mentions from 20 games.
Not only did he catch the eyes of pundits, he also caught the eyes of the umpires, winning the Kenneth Wright Medal for the Best and Fairest player in Division 2. He was also the inaugural winner of the Division 1 and 2 Leader Young Gun award.
He played another 14 games for the Hawks in 2009 before moving to Cora Lynn.
Since returning to the Hawks, Robinson has been surprised at the level of change around the club.
“It’s very impressive. The work that has been done in the couple of years l have been away is amazing with the new lights and ground resurfacing, in particular, being much better for the players,” he said.
“The opportunities for young players coming up from the juniors is very exciting and definitely a place that will hopefully have sustained success. The playing group is so young, with the majority of the playing list under the age of 25, which makes for an exciting future for the club.”
Robinson, whose father Keith coached the Hawks in the early 2000’s, says new senior coach Peter Bastinac has been “welcomed with open arms” and is already well respected by the playing group.
“[Peter] is a great communicator and it is already clear the style and patterns he wants us playing this year and his expectation that everyone plays their role for the team,” Robinson said.
Robinson is enjoying being back at the club, as well as the light-hearted banter that has partnered it.
He believes the entire club, which played in Division 1 last season for the first time since 1982, can continue to improve on its 2013 feats.
“My focus will be to work as hard as l can, play my role for the team but just enjoy playing footy. I would love to play finals football with all the boys,” he said.
Rowville kicks off its 2014 campaign against Vermont away from home in Round 1.