Brauman farewells Banno

 

BANNOCKBURN has suffered a significant blow in its quest for a unique hat-trick of GDFNL premiership with gun midfielder Jack Brauman headed for Queensland.

Co-coach of last year’s team that overcame a qualifying final loss to Inverleigh to overcome the Hawks in the grand final, the Tigers have confirmed Brauman won’t play any part in the club’s 2023 campaign.

“Jack told the playing group last (Wednesday) night he’s going to be moving up to Queensland in the next few weeks and won’t be playing football at Bannockburn this year,” Bannockburn football boss Zach Hickleton told krockfootball.com.au.

“It’s something he’s been thinking about for a long time making this move.

“He’s very much a lifestyle kind of person, and there’s an opportunity to get up there.”

Brauman, who shared the 2021 Whitley Medal with Bell Post Hill’s Dylan Witney, is no stranger to the Sunshine State

He played with Surfers Paradise in 2020 after moving north during the COVID-19 shutdown of Victorian community football.

“That’s the sign of the person he is; he loves his footy and loves his life, and he took an opportunity to get away and play some footy,” Hickelton said.

“He enjoyed it a lot when he was up there, so I think that sort of lifestyle with the weather and what you can do outdoors is something that he really loves.

“It was very enticing for him to eventually make the move up there.”

 

 

 

Hickleton says Brauman, who also played VFL with Werribee and GFNL at Bell Park, has left an indelible mark on Victoria Park.

“Every time he runs out onto the ground, everyone walks a bit taller,” Hickleton said.

“He’s one of the most respected players in Geelong; he’s certainly one of the most respected at Bannockburn – leadership, playing, off-field, he’s just a mountain of a man.

“He’s going to leave a hole, but it opens up opportunities for other people to step into leadership roles and step up, like Tristan Battaglia and Kieran Fulton.”

 

Brauman is the seventh departure from last year’s premiership team, joining retired trio Josh Cole, B.J. Harding and Daniel Ladgrove, and Ben Cole (Dunkeld), Lachie Middleton (South Barwon) and Billy Ritchie (Leopold).

Bannockburn has practice matches against Central Highlands League club Gordon tomorrow (Friday) night and GDFNL rivals Winchelsea next Friday night before hosting Werribee Centrals in a twilight clash to open the season on April 1.

 

Images: 
Bannockburn star Jack Brauman won’t play with the Tigers in 2023. (Sports Media Image/Marcel Berens)
Bannockburn co-coaches Jack Brauman and Ron Pilgrim and captain Daniel Measures lift the 2022 GDFNL premiership cup. (Sports Media Image/Marcel Berens)