Michael Best says the opportunity to be part of premiership success at Inverleigh has brought him back to the club.
The classy half-back last played with the Hawks in 2019, spending the years post-pandemic with Rowville (2021) in Melbourne’s strong Eastern League and Queensland club Aspley (2022-23), where he played in a QAFL flag last season.
But the 28-year-old now wants to play in a premiership in a brown and gold jumper of a different style.
“I was over the moon to see how well they were going,” Best, who was part of Inverleigh’s losing grand final teams in 2017 and 2018, said.
“I was checking the results every week.
“I was definitely excited for them, but I kind of wished I was there at the same time.
“And when they did win the flag, it was bittersweet. I was over the moon for them, but I wish I was a part of it.
“I think that’s what’s driven me back and hopefully go back-to-back.”
Best, a three-time GDFNL Team of the Year representative and finished third in the 2019 Whitley Medal behind winner Reece Holwell, moved back from Brisbane at the end of last year.
He says returning to Morton Power Oval was an easy decision.
“It feels like going home, to be honest,” Best said.
“The vibe hasn’t changed. ‘Buck’ (Adam Donohue) is still there even though he’s not coaching.
“I’ve still got all my best mates out there, and I feel as though we’re a lot stronger now than we were in those 2018-2019 seasons.”
The return of Best, along with that of Toby Manganelli (season off) and David Peel (Geelong West GFNL) and the addition of Ryan Bell (Dimboola) and Bailey Carubia (Maffra), has well and truly covered the departures of Blake Hutchinson (Great Western), Brad Surkitt (South Colac) and Jarrod Young (retired).
A GDFNL representative in each of his three years, Best is unsure what co-coaches Chris Moore and Dalton Grundell have in store for him.
“‘Buck’ and I play similar roles of half-back,” he said. “I feel as though if Buck goes forward, I’ll go to half-back.
“And then potentially, I will probably run through the midfield, depending on how our midfielders are tracking.”
Best says Peel, who hasn’t played at Inverleigh since 2013, is primed to impact his junior club.
“Peely’s going great,” Best said. “He and I have been running together at training and pushing each other.
“There’s Jarrod Love and Scott Condy as well that love to push each other when it comes to the running.
“Peely hasn’t really missed a session.”
X: @krockfootball
2024 LOCAL FOOTBALL PRACTICE MATCHES
ANAKIE
March 1 – vs. Belmont Lions @ Anakie Reserve
March 9 – vs. Albanvale @ Anakie Reserve
March 16 – vs. SMW Rovers @ Anakie Reserve
ANGLESEA
March 2 – vs. PEGS @ Ellimatta Reserve
March 16 – vs. St Bede’s Mentone @ Ellimatta Reserve
BANNOCKBURN
March 16 – vs. Bell Post Hill @ Myers Reserve
March 23 – vs. Gordon @ Victoria Park
BARWON HEADS
March 2 – vs. Yarraville @ Howard Harmer Oval
March 9 – vs. North Ballarat @ Mars Stadium
March 16 – vs. Point Cook @ Howard Harmer Oval
BELL PARK
March 14 – vs. Torquay @ North Torquay
March 23 – vs. Altona @ Altona
April 6 – vs. North Ballarat @ Hi Sushi Oval
BELL POST HILL
March 16 – vs. Bannockburn @ Victoria Park
March 23 – vs. Wyndhamvale @ Wyndhamvale
BELMONT LIONS
February 19 – vs. Belmont Lions @ Portarlington
March 1 – vs. Anakie @ Anakie
March 16 – vs. Learmonth @ Learmonth
COLAC
March 7 – vs. Torquay @ North Torquay
March 16 – vs. North Warrnambool @ Central Reserve
March 23 – vs. Terang Mortlake @ Central Reserve
CORIO
March 9 – vs. Sunshine Heights @ TBC
March 16 – vs. Irrewarra-Beeac @ All In One Oval – Corio
March 23 – vs. Otway Districts @ All In One Oval – Corio
DRYSDALE
February 24 – vs. Newcomb @ Deakin University
March 16 – vs. East Point @ East Point
March 23 – vs. Redan @ Redan
EAST GEELONG
March 7 – vs. Ocean Grove @ TBC
GEELONG AMATEUR
March 2 – vs. Spotswood @ Anakie
March 16 – vs. Williamstown CYMS @ TBC
GEELONG WEST (GDFNL)
March 2 – Irrewarra Beeac @ Evans Reserve
March 16 – Ballan @ Ballan
March 23 – Rokewood Corindhap @ Rokewood
GEELONG WEST (GFNL)
March 16 – vs. Modewarre (GFNL) @ TBC
April 6 – vs. Doutta Stars @ TBC
GROVEDALE
March 16 – Old Paradians @ TBC
March 23 – Point Cook Centrals @ TBC
INVERLEIGH
March 16 – vs. Newtown & Chilwell @ Elderslie Reserve
LARA
March 23 – vs. Werribee Districts @ Bisinella Oval
April 6 – vs. Darley @ Bisinella Oval
LEOPOLD
March 16 – vs. Keilor @ Keilor
March 23 – vs. South Barwon @ Anakiedx
April 6 – vs St Mary’s @ Deakin Uni
MODEWARRE
March 1 – vs. Queenscliff @ Community Bank Oval
March 8 – vs. St Albans @ North Torquay
March 16 – vs. Geelong West (GFNL) @ TBC
NEWCOMB
February 24 – vs. Drysdale @ Deakin University
March 3 – vs. Winchelsea @ Deakin
March 16 – vs. Hastings @ Deakin University
NEWTOWN & CHILWELL
March 16 – vs. Inverleigh @ Elderslie Reserve
NORTH GEELONG
March 10 – vs. Otway Districts @ Deakin Uni
March 23 – vs. Creswick @ Keith Barclay Oval
NORTH SHORE
March 16 – vs. Clunes @ TBC
March 23 – vs. St Albans @ Windsor Park
OCEAN GROVE
March 7 – vs. East Geelong @ TBC
March 16 – vs. Cobden @ TBC
PORTARLINGTON
February 19 – vs. Belmont Lions @ Portarlington
March 3 – vs. St Albans @ Anakie
March 16 – vs. Macedon @ Portarlington
March 23 – vs. Parkside @ Portarlington
QUEENSCLIFF
March 1 – vs. Modewarre @ Community Bank Oval
March 16 – vs. Sorrento @ Oakdene
SOUTH BARWON
March 17 – vs. Old Brighton @ Anakie Reserve
March 23 – vs. Leopold @ Anakie Reserve
ST ALBANS
March 3 – vs. Portarlington @ Anakie
March 8 – vs. Modewarre @ North Torquay
March 23 – vs. North Shore @ Windsor Park
ST JOSEPH’S
March 16 – vs. Werribee Districts @ TBC
March 23 – vs. Warrnambool @ TBC
ST MARY’S
March 2 – vs. Torquay @ North Torquay
March 17 – vs. Aberfeldie @ Anthony Costa Oval
March 23 – vs. North Ballarat @ Mars Stadium
April 6 – vs. Leopold @ Deakin Uni
THOMSON
TBC
TORQUAY
March 2 vs. St Mary’s @ North Torquay
March 7 – vs. Colac @ North Torquay
March 14 – vs. Bell Park @ North Torquay
WERRIBEE CENTRALS
March 16 – vs. Altona @ Galvin Park
March 23 – vs. Burnside Heights @ Burnside
WINCHELSEA
March 3 – vs. Newcomb @ Deakin
March 9 – vs. Alvie @ TBC
March 16 – vs. Yackandandah @ Yackandandah
