FOOTBALL can be character building in so many ways, just ask Matthew Sully.
Last year Sully played in Geelong’s first two VFL finals as the 23rd player and from all reports played well.
But given how the rules governing the 23rd work the Cats were then faced with a choice – play Sully on his merits as a VFL player or leave him out of the team.
With Geelong over-flowing with available AFL listed/rookie listed players, Sully couldn’t force his way into the Cats’ Preliminary Final or Grand Final team, which included just four and five VFL players respectively.
“It was sort of bitter sweet, I suppose,” mused Sully.
“I was rapt the boys won. I watched it from home with mixed emotions. Obviously, I would have loved to be out there.
“I was happy that I could do whatever I could to get them there. Hopefully, I’ll get my chance in the next couple of years.”
With Andrew McLean, the general of Geelong’s VFL defence, retiring after the premiership, Geelong VFL coach Matthew Knights told Sully the position was there for the taking.
Sully accepted the offer to step up to replace a seriously good VFL player. So much so that he was selected in the VFL squad to play Western Australia earlier in the month.
Again, Sully was a victim of the number crunching game. He missed the cut.
Mindful of the heartache from last year, several friends sent Sully a text to bolster his spirits, but while disappointed, the 20-year-old was pleased he’d made enough of an impression to make the Peter Jackson VFL squad.
“I was pretty happy to make the initial squad then disappointed not to make the final team, but really it’s my first full year playing VFL,” Sully said.
“I got a message from a few of the boys to say ‘keep your head up’. It was a good experience to train with the VFL squad.”
Sully had the choice of playing with North Ballarat, where he played with the club’s feeder club North Ballarat Rebels, or Geelong, given he hails from Warrnambool.
After a meeting with James Rahilly, a former Geelong 90-game player, Norm Goss Medalist in the Cats’ 2002 VFL premiership and current Geelong assistant coach, Sully decided to pursue his football with Geelong’s VFL club.
It helped that Rahilly played with South Warrnambool, the club he played in a premiership with in 2011.
“He spoke about Geelong, what a great club it is, so I went up there and trained and I’ve loved it,” Sully said.
“The coaches are really good at communicating to us younger blokes. Everyone knows their role.”
Matthew Sully knows his role and wants to lock it away so there can be no further disappointment.
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 29/05/2013 14:38