The boys are back at PEGS

Tash Gunawardana

After six years away from PEGS, Josh Pound is set to fulfil a promise made to his older brother and senior coach Dane and return to where it all began for the 2020 season.

After playing one year at PEGS in 2013 and claiming the club best & fairest award, Josh moved to Aberfeldie in the EDFL but says he’s excited to return.

“I planned on doing it in the last few years and kept on saying one more year at Aberfeldie and was lucky enough to have some success,” he said.

“I’m excited to play with a couple of mates from school and being coached by my brother.”

Returning to the Bombers means Josh will play under Dane and alongside best mates Cam Livori and Adrian Romanyk.

“It’s one of those things, you feel so close to your family and friends that you spend so much time with your footy teammates,” he said.

“You train twice a week and playing on the weekend and I’ve sort of stopped doing that with Cam and Sauce.”

Given Josh has always played footy on a Saturday at a different club to Dane, he has never seen the man named the 2017 VAFA Divisions Coach of the Year in action. He has, however, played alongside his brother at Aberfeldie and his standout performance meant Dane but dubbed BOJ (Brother of Josh) for the next three years.

As for Dane, he simply cannot wait to lead the younger brother in Division 1 next year as PEGS try to replicate their premiership-winning form from two years ago.

“Look it’s fantastic, because of a slight age difference (six years) I didn’t get to play a great deal of footy with Josh,” Dane said.

“We have both been heavily involved in sport our whole lives but never really done it together.”

The brothers knew they’d reunite at some point, but Josh’s return to PEGS could not have come at a more important time for the club as they look to rebuild after winning just two games in Premier C last year following several key departures.

“I suppose when you become a coach and your brother is a very talented footballer one of the first things you want to do is recruit him to come and play,” Dane said.

“It was just about getting the timing right, the timing’s right now.”

Despite their father, Brian, being a die-hard Abers man (and long-serving President), he supports Josh joining Dane at PEGS.

“He wasn’t overly happy when I spoke about Josh coming across previously, but as the timing’s right now I think he feels that as well,” Dane said.

Outside of the obvious family connection, Josh’s actual football talent will be of the utmost importance to PEGS and his goal kicking prowess alongside Romanyk will go a long way to deciding their fate most weeks.

“He is a goal kicker, he’s very skilled and has a very good left foot, can play small and tall, down forward and back,” Dane said.

“And the other thing is leadership on field for sure, he’s a very talented footballer and a lovable person.”