Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong have snared their second key signing of the off-season in the form of a key defender.
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James Wilson has joined the Lions after a couple of seasons away from the game.
The 23-year-old last played with Tallangatta League club Thurgoona and was a junior at Albury Tigers.
Wilson can play at either end of the ground but is most at home in defence, a position new GGGM coach Christin Macri is keen to slot him into.
It was discussions with Macri about the club’s direction that prompted Wilson to join the Lions.
“I’ve got a few mates in the Hume League and was tempted to play with them this year but after having a chat to Ganmain and hearing where they are going with the club, it’s really promising,” Wilson said.
“It was quite an easy decision to make.
“They’ve got a lot of young blokes and with what the coach was saying about where they want to go, it sounded really positive.
“That’s what bought me into it.”
Wilson last played with Thurgoona in 2015, where he played 18 games for the Bulldogs.
He managed 49 senior games between 2013-15 and was named in Thurgoona’s best on 12 occasions.
Wilson moved to Wagga with his partner last year but work commitments had made it difficult for him to play the last couple of seasons.
“It was just about me getting some work that allows me to play footy,” he said.
“I was hoping to get back into it this year, last year I really missed it and the opportunity came up at Ganmain.
“It’s a new challenge and I’ll get to meet some new blokes.”
Wilson is GGGM’s second key signing after the earlier recruitment of Aaron Proctor from Pambula.
He is in the process of moving to Wagga and will begin training with the Lions in coming weeks.
Macri is pleased to add another key position player to the Lions’ stocks.
“He’s a key back that will probably play at either centre-half back or full back,” Macri said.
“He adds some strength, which is good.”
GGGM will boast a dangerous spine with Wilson joining the likes of Jacob Olsson, Ben Walsh and Riley Corbett.
The Lions still confident of adding more recruits before the start of the season in April.
GGGM will prepare for the season proper with their usual pre-season trial games against Marrar and Osborne, premiers of both the Farrer and Hume Leagues.
They will host the Bombers at Ganmain Sportsground on Thursday night, April 5, and play the Cats in March.
