Having relished life down within the South West over the previous three years, Patrick McGinnity has added one other thrilling factor to his life — being an integral a part of the Dunsborough Sharks’ inaugural league crew.
McGinnity, who performed 93 AFL video games for the West Coast Eagles between 2009 and 2016, relocated to the area following a profitable stint at WAFL facet East Perth within the aftermath of his AFL profession.
Though he has loads of associates down right here, McGinnity informed the Busselton-Dunsborough Occasions his transfer to the Sharks was not pre-planned.
“For me, the celebrities kind of aligned a bit of bit,” he stated.
“To be trustworthy, I genuinely thought I’d by no means play once more. In the event you had requested me six months in the past whether or not I used to be going to play once more, I’d have stated ‘undoubtedly not’.
“I type of really feel unhealthy now, as a result of I had different footy groups within the space ask me if I wished to play or be concerned with their sides — together with shut mates at Busselton and Augusta-Margaret River, to whom I stated no to.
“However Paul Dean acquired in touch with me from the Dunsborough Footy Membership and talked to me about how they had been getting a brand new facet and the way it had been within the works for some time.
“I simply felt prefer it was a extremely good alternative to become involved. I’ve been dwelling down right here for 3 years now, introduced my household down and we like it.
“Now we’re a bit of bit settled, we wished to begin getting concerned locally a bit of bit.”
Apart from his taking part in commitments, McGinnity may have a level of mentorship on the membership, the place he’ll present help to youthful gamers who’re transitioning to senior soccer.
This idea is warmly embraced by McGinnity and his coach Daniel Wiseman.
When not sweating it out on the coaching monitor with the Sharks, chances are high you will see that McGinnity working onerous down in Margaret River at Fermoy Property.
“Now we have acquired an superior crew,” he stated.
“I do our floor conserving and handle our warehouse right here. However all of us kind of assist one another out, given the truth that we’re a small crew.
“We make some superior wines — Jeremy Hodgson makes ours and does some superior stuff. I’ve discovered so much and it’s only a nice way of life down right here.”
