Dean Galea is hoping for another big season with Port Melbourne this season. 70951 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
DEAN Galea’s best football may still be in front of him.
The Port Melbourne forward produced arguably his best season yet last year, when the Borough went through undefeated to claim the premiership, and has come through a tough pre-season with few hiccups.
Galea, who lives in Caroline Springs and played for Williamstown before joining the Borough in 2011, kicked 71 goals last season and was among the best players in Port Melbourne’s grand final drubbing of his former side.
The 27-year-old noted the improbability of a flawless season ever happening again, particularly considering the several big name departures from Port Melbourne’s list.
Ryan Batsanis, Patrick Rose, Malcolm Lynch, Callum Sinclair, Ryan McMahon, Jake Edwards, Jarrod Dalton and Mitchell Keddell are some of the players from last year’s premiership side who have left, but Galea said Port Melbourne had replenished its list with enough solid players to be at the pointy end of the season again.
“I think we’re still good enough to go back to back,” he said. “We’ve gained a few but no massive recruits, and a lot of our younger blokes with another year in the system, hopefully a lot of them play senior footy. We’ll still have a pretty competitive side.”
Galea, who described last year’s premiership as the highlight of his sporting career, said the move to Port Melbourne reinvigorated his career.
“I enjoyed my time at Williamstown but it’s the best move I ever made. It’s the best two years I’ve had at VFL level so far,” he said.
Playing for a stand-alone club provided the stability Galea needed to flourish.
“With affiliated clubs, it doesn’t matter how good you play you don’t know if you’re going to be picked the week after, with the AFL blokes coming back,” he said.
“I’ve loved my two and a bit years at Port so far. With (coach) Gary Ayres if you perform you’re in the side, if you don’t you’re out. It’s a bit different to the affiliated clubs.
Galea is expecting a much tougher season than last, not just because the Borough’s playing list is significantly different, but because every other VFL side will be picking apart the reigning premier’s strengths and weaknesses in an effort to inflict the side’s first loss since 2010.
No club will be more desperate to do so than Williamstown.
“Especially with one of our assistant coaches (Andrew Mirams) going to Williamstown, it’s going to help them a little bit, but we’ve changed a few things. We’re going to expect every team to come out to be the first team to knock us off.”
