HAMLEY Bridge Football Club last won an A-grade game on July 16, 2016 – but its 60-game losing streak may be coming to an end sooner rather than later after nabbing former Port Adelaide and Central District forward John Butcher.
Butcher, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Future’ by former Port teammates after being taken in the first round of the 2009 draft, kicked six goals in his last game for Central District this year, and measuring in at six-foot-six, he will provide arguably the best forward option in the Adelaide Plains Football League in 2021.
In the club’s announcement on Facebook, it said Butcher will “be a massive influence on our young playing group”, and at 29-years-old, he theoretically still has plenty in the tank.
The Bombers also announced its A-grade coach Matt Norman will be returning to the club, as well as B-grade coach Craig Calliess to provide some stability to the senior ranks.
While Hamley Bridge did go 0-8 this past season, it was not a complete bloodbath like it has been in previous years.
The Bombers blew a 37-10 quarter time lead in round two against Angle Vale, eventually losing 55-66, and then went down again in a nail-biting rematch in round eight 100-110.