For three mates playing for VFL club Box Hill a move to Canberra to play for Ainslie in 2008 has paid dividends.
The reason for making the move were a mixture of opportunity, lifestyle change, as well as the challenge of something new in their football careers.
VFL club Box Hill Hawks has a connection to AFL club Hawthorn but for the ‘magic’ three the move to the nation’s capital has been great for both players and the club.
One of the players who made the move is now the captain of the Ainslie Football Club, John Holmes. While both Eric Stone and Marcus Crook followed Holmes to Canberra after being lured by coach Chris Rourke.
"John Holmes was coming up and I spoke with Chris (Rourke) and he was very impressive with what he had to say so we decided to make the move," Eric Stone explained.
"Moving up with three mates and the chance of a lifestyle change was a big factor in the move," said Stone.
For Marcus a change before the 2008 season was just what he was after.
"A few Box Hill boys were in contact with Ainslie and I was looking for a change so I decided to make the move in 2008," Marcus Crook explained.
Ainslie’s steep history as well as it’s pedigree as a top semi-professional AFL club helped Crook make the move north.
"Ainslie is a club with a rich in history so I knew I was coming to a good club and that played a big part in the decision," stated Crook.
For Crook the move to Canberra has followed stints all around regional Victoria
"I played juniors in Colac and TAC (Under 18’s) with Geelong then moved to Box Hill before ending up at Ainslie."
Ainslie coach Chris Rourke believes the "Box Hill boys" offer more than stellar performances on the park.
"They (the former Box Hill players) have really brought something new to the club in the last few years.
"They are really professional and are great trainers which is what you look for in players," said Rourke.
With a move from Melbourne to an unfamiliar team you would forgive the players for hiding in the pack and not getting involved but as Chris Rourke explains that’s exactly what the former Box Hill players haven’t done.
"They have all been great; John’s now club captain so that speaks for itself. While Marcus was close to best on ground in our 2010 premiership win and Eric continues to be a great contributor to the Ainslie footy club," Rourke stated.
Ainslie captain John Holmes believes that the Chris Rourke influence was a big part of the decision.
"I knew Chris Rourke’s brother so the connection was there but Chris was great and he helped set us up with a house which made the move a lot easier."
Work was another big reason for Holmes’s move from Melbourne - something which the club also helped set up.
"Ainslie contacted me about the move and when things got a bit more serious they helped set up a job as an apprentice plumber," Holmes explained.
After winning the premiership last year Ainslie will be looking for back-to-back title’s in 2011 something which Eric Stone believes is possible thanks to a great off field culture.
"There is a really good group of guys at the club, the culture has changed since I came up in 2008 and the success on the field has been because of what the footy club and the team is like off the field," Stone stated.
Both John Holmes and Marcus Crook believe that the next few weeks could make or break Ainslie’s 2011 premiership hopes.
"The team is going along really well but we have a few tough challenges in the next few weeks which will hopefully set us up," Crook explained.
Holmes backed up his team mates comments.
"We’re sitting about second or third at the moment so the next four or five weeks are crucial to our chances."
No matter the end result in 2011, the three former Box Hill players are extremely proud to call themselves members of the Ainslie Football Club and will be looking to help the club to premiership success in the years to come.
Pictured: Ainslie captain, John Holes in action
Photo by Ben Southall Photography