LIAM PHILLIPS
GAWLER Central will be bolstered this season by the return of one of its great midfielders, Charlie Molyneux, after he left the club before the 2018 season as the reigning Schluter Medalist, given to the league’s best-and fairest.
The star midfielder was named the captain of Gawler Central’s team that com- memorated the club’s best players from the 50 years spanning 1969-2019, played a key role in the Tiger’s 2014 premiership, and is one of two players to win the Schluter Medal/Coaches Player of the Year double in 2017.
Coach Matt Whelan said it is hard to overstate what his return means to the club.
“Obviously it’s huge for us in many respects,” Whelan said.
“He’s a quality footballer, but additionally his character is outstanding, his dad is our team manager, and he just has a really good feel across the board, on and off field.
“The members have got a spring in their step too, it’s been really good.”
The club will also enjoy the return of youngster Jake Billing from Central District, as well as the signing of ex-basketballer and Sydney Swans academy player, Alex Starling.
Whelan identified that, after deciding two years ago to commit to playing the kids, the goal this year is to become more mature on the field and stressed the impor- tance on making finals this
season.
“With the path we went a couple of years ago, we need to start seeing the re- wards from that,” Whelan said.
“Some of those lads that are now 21 or 22 have played 30-40 games, so we believe we’re going to get real natural growth there.
“We knew a couple of years ago that we would have to absorb some pain and some big losses, so now we need to get more mature and finish off our good
work.
“So we’re at the end of that youth direction, so if we don’t achieve what we want to achieve this year – I don’t like to say fail- ure – but we really need to be playing finals football this year.”