Pigeons new recruit Perry Lewis-Smith, in front, playing in the VFL.
Yarrawonga’s football stocks have been further boosted with the signing of onballer Perry Lewis-Smith from the Mornington Peninsula, and Yarrawonga’s J C Lowe Oval and surrounds have been further enhanced.
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Super fit 25-year-old, approximately six- foot-tall Lewis-Smith finished playing football last Saturday with Palmerston in Darwin. The team did not make the finals and Lewis-Smith is back home.
“He’s a very clean onballer, got a big tank, very fit and neat skills,” Yarrawonga’s coach Steve Johnson told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“Perry is firmly committed to our team. He will travel up Thursday each week and train with us, work here on Friday and play on the weekend. He trains very hard by himself and he’ll be here for our practice matches in March.”
Last year, before this current season in Darwin, he played with VFL Team Northern Bullants and Mornington.
Lewis-Smith is the second big name recruited to Pigeonland for season 2024. His signing follows that of Hawthorn and North Melbourne’s Dan Howe.
When asked about Howe’s starting position, three-time Geelong premiership star Johnson replied: “Early thoughts are we’ll probably play him off half-back. But we know his capabilities – he’s a utility and can play anywhere.”
The Pigeons have lost Dylan Conway but the club’s list has been strengthened from the 2023 premiership season with the acquisition of Howe and Lewis-Smith.
“A lot of people have been talking up the other clubs - that’s alright - but we’re going along nicely,” Johnson said.
Yarrawonga Football Netball Club President Ross Mulquiney said the club is delighted to add Perry to its playing list.
“The club is blessed to have great support and in particular would like to acknowledge the support of Kait and Marcus Cummins in assisting both the YFNC and Perry in finding him suitable work for his time here in Yarrawonga,” the president said.
“Support such from our community is the backbone of being able to attract and also retain quality people at the Pigeons.
“In 2024 our focus has been largely on retaining a great group footballers and netballers to keep growing our club.”
New works at the oval
The beautiful looking turfed area behind the fence at JC Lowe Oval.
Pre season is in full swing and the club has continued its works to improve the JC Lowe Oval and surrounds. The latest works have been the rectification of the outer wing and making safe what was quite an OH&S issue.
Yarrawonga Football Netball Club gives special mention to Judd & Sons (Matt Judd and Phil Dickie), for their incredible generosity in performing significant earthworks, to Water Dynamics and AXT Plumbing for ensuring a suitable irrigation program could be added and to Chris Dowling, for providing assistance, but also allowing the YFNC to deal with a considerable amount of spoil without any hesitancy.
The club has also appreciated Kentucky Turf Nursery (Bundalong) for delivering instant lawn for installation at the spectator river street end of the ground. “We also say a huge thanks to a number of volunteers who helped lay and prepare, especially Warwick Henderson,” president Ross Mulquiney said.
“A very special thank you to Andrew Mott for the planning and control of the project. The YFNC would also especially like to thank Murray River Electrical who sent their entire crew down to install the grass.”
With the annual big Easter Tennis, the area will be off limits until Easter.
Mr Mulquiney concluded: “We can’t wait to see you all down and the J C Lowe to cheer on your teams!”
