TIMING is everything, especially in football.
Five seasons ago, Myles Sewell decided to abandon a decision to pursue a football career with Coburg Tigers to return to North Ballarat, a club he’d already forged strong ties.
Sewell had been the best and fairest winner with North Ballarat Rebels when Gerard Fitzgerald spent several years coaching in the TAC.
While he played in Coburg Tigers’ Reserves premiership as well as playing seven senior games, Sewell thought his football would be better served playing with North Ballarat.
It proved an inspired choice.
Sewell became an integral part in North Ballarat’s historic three successive premierships and along the way earned a reputation as one of the best players in the VFL.
He became an automatic selection in VFL representative teams, annually found himself selected in the VFL Team Of The Year and underscored his ability with a best and fairest in a premiership season.
Last year, Sewell joined club legends Liston Trophy winner Julian Field and Jeremy Clayton by winning a second best and fairest.
It’s a remarkable CV for someone who’s only 24 and tomorrow plays his 100th VFL match when North Ballarat host old foe Northern Blues at Eureka Stadium.
Sewell marvelled how quick the past five seasons had flown past and, modestly, how fortunate he’s been to play in such a dominant era.
“It’s amazing how quick it has gone,” Sewell said.
“It’s been fantastic to have had as much success as we’ve had. I got lucky, very lucky. I got a game in a team that had been building and had played off in a Preliminary Final the year before I arrived.
“If someone had told me that I was going to go back to North (Ballarat) and win three flags, I would have said ‘get real’. I can’t believe it, to be honest.”
Sewell said there was an air of self-belief among that playing group that they would win no matter what stage the game was situated.
He noted that he had been fortunate to play alongside many quality players like Brett Goodes, Tom Roach, Orren Stephenson, Stephen Clifton, Shaune Moloney and Marc Greig.
“That’s probably why we were as successful as we were. We had quality players from the back pocket right through to the forward pocket,” Sewell said.
One of FitzGerald ‘s constant messages, even still relevant today, is that team success produces individual accolades, but, Sewell said the order is always team before personal triumph.
Sewell said the honours he’s accumulated were directly attributed to his teammates whose belief in the team first doctrine proved unflinching.
He added that the loyalty within the playing group has been a cornerstone of the club’s success.
“’Spider’ (Shaune Moloney) drummed into us that success would come if the group stuck together and it did. Many players were offered more money to play in the WAFL or SANFL, but they all stuck because they believed in the club and what we could achieve.
“When you get a taste of that success, you get a bit greedy and you want that success again and it keeps you striving for more.
“’Spider’ and Greigy (Marc Greig) kept telling us not to take anything for granted, that success only comes from hard work.”
While North Ballarat’s first half of the season has been disappointing, Sewell doesn’t believe the club is far off the pace in what is a most even competition.
Sewell has no doubt that the Rooster’s second half of the season will be more consistent and he added the club hasn’t given up on playing finals.
“On our day, I think we can beat anyone,” he said.
“I think if we can sneak into the finals, there will be a few teams looking over their shoulders.”
Perennially, Sewell’s name is bandied as a possible AFL Draft selection, but it hasn’t amounted to anything.
Sewell notes that his lack of speed has anchored him in the eyes of AFL recruiting staff, but no one can take away the wonderful time he’s enjoyed at North Ballarat.
Last Modified on 15/06/2012 16:54