Russell Cowan is TRFM Gippsland League’s inside man.
The 28-year-old midfielder joined Bairnsdale from AFL Yarra Ranges club Mt Evelyn this season and will line up against his old league in this weekend’s Worksafe AFL Victoria Community Championships clash at Woori Yallock.
Cowan played at three clubs across nine seasons in the Yarra Valley, winning two division two league medals – one at Powelltown and one at Mt Evelyn – and representing the league on five occasions.
Two of those appearances came against Gippsland – at Moe in 2013 and Drouin in 2015 – and he was determined to be on the winning side this time around.
“I’m looking forward to getting into it and having a win with the boys,” Cowan said.
“It’s a good bunch of guys and if we win the ball in the middle and get it down to guys like (Damian) Cupido and our other forwards we’ll give ourselves a good chance.”
Cowan pointed to Olinda Ferny Creek ruckman James Charge and the league’s on-ball brigade as players to keep an eye on and predicted a physical contest, particularly in the centre of the ground.
“They’ll be a tough side. Their grounds are a bit smaller so they’ll be good at the contested footy and it sounds like they’re going in pretty tall,” he said.
“If you don’t man up on Justin Myers he’ll have 50 touches and Matt Polkinghorne and Marcus Hotties are really good players and ones to watch as well.”
Cowan said he hadn’t had much opportunity to discuss his knowledge with Gippsland coach Harmit Singh, but was ready to share any information he had to help his new side, should it be required.
Saturday’s clash between TRFM Gippsland League and AFL Yarra Ranges kicks off at 2.20pm.
Image: The Weekly Times
Last Modified on 11/05/2017 13:03