Respected backman, Geoff Spriggs, says he has the fire in the belly for a new challenge after joining Farrer League finalists Marrar.
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With former Northern Jets forward Brad Moye also heading to Langtry Oval, Spriggs headlined a big day for the Bombers.
A two-time premiership player with Collingullie-Glenfield Park, Spriggs said he still has the desire to prove himself but was due for a change.
“I’ve played in the RFL for 16 seasons in first grade so I’m definitely looking for a bit of a challenge,” Spriggs said.
“There’s definitely challenges in the RFL but it’ll be good to get some new opponents and new towns.”
The opportunity to link up with Shane Lenon encouraged Spriggs, who said his former mentor knows how to get the best out of him.
“The secret to Shane is motivation,” he said. “Obviously he’s a very knowledgeable guy, but the standards he sets, he turns boys into men pretty quickly. It doesn’t matter who you are – I was a 30-year old bloke (when arriving at Collingullie) but he knows how to get the best out of people.
“It’s very hard even when you’re an established player to argue with him. He’s done it all as a player and a coach,” Spriggs said of Lenon – who he played representative football with way back in 2001.
“It was his last rep game and my first,” he said.
With more than 320 first grade games to his name, Spriggs said retirement hasn’t crossed his mind and believes the switch will put a spring in his step.
“Absolutely. I’m out there for a new challenge and what the club’s doing is exciting,” he said.
“They’ve got a lot of young fellas with a lot of potential and I guess if I can bring some experience to a backline that’s got Clint Taylor in it as well, well I just hope to be able to contribute.”
Having played 170 games with Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes before heading to Collingullie, Spriggs said the prospect of returning to the Goannas crossed his mind but he ultimately decided he couldn’t play against the Demons.
Lenon said Spriggs, approaching his mid-30s, has plenty to offer.
“He’s a top class backman and he’s still a very good player,” Lenon said. “The two years that Gullie won the premierships, he averaged less than a goal a game on him as a fullback.”
His experience in the successful culture at the Crossroads was also an important factor, according to Lenon.
Brad Moye’s recruitment adds some excitement – and more premiership experience – at the other end of the ground.
“He’s a small forward, he hits the scoreboard and he can rotate through the midfield too so he ticks a couple of boxes for us,” Lenon said.
“One of the major reasons he’s coming to Marrar is he wants to play with his brother so that’s a big part of it for him.”
Moye said he and Jackson have talked for much of the season about playing together again, having shared in the first and last of Temora’s three flags.
He said he’s also looking forward to playing alongside his cousin, Rory Block, and reuniting with Josh Hagar and Jason Reid.
“It's going to be good,” Moye said.
“It looks like they’ll be pretty strong, they’ve kept all their players, and Jackson loves it out there.”
The Northern Jets ended Marrar’s season this year, with a comeback victory in the elimination final at Robertson Oval.
The signings come on the back of the Bombers recruiting four players from Lockhart including Jesse Margosis and Shannon Williams.