Mitchell Price has "hundreds of mates back home who haven't had a season", he finished last in a time trial at training and now describes 2020 as an "unreal" experience.
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The 28-year-old relocated from regional Victoria to the Central Coast in June, making the most of his move north and not looking to go anywhere else in a hurry.
Terrigal Avoca's ruckman enjoyed an outstanding maiden Black Diamond Cup campaign, receiving the Elliott Davey Medal as the competition's best and fairest after helping the Panthers complete an undefeated minor-major premiership double with a grand final victory against Newcastle City at Adelaide Street Oval on Saturday.
"It's unreal. I couldn't ask for anything more," Price told the Newcastle Herald.
Price, raised at Phillip Island and more recently living in Shepparton, had spent the last five years with Numurkah in the Murray Football League before the coronavirus crisis brought that to a grinding halt.
"I would have played the season in Victoria but it got cancelled. Our whole year got messed up," he said.
"I've got hundreds of mates back home who haven't had a season. They are stinging for it."
Price and girlfriend Talia, who is originally from Sydney, decided to shift and landed in Avoca before he looked up the closest Aussie rules club.
"I sent them a message, asked if I could come to training and they were a ripping bunch of fellas," he said.
An early session almost brought Price unstuck.
"I put on a heap of weight during COVID-19 and I'm not very fit at all," he said with a laugh.
"We did a 2km time trial and I was the last bloke there, but they all come back and got me. I had a couple of tears rolling down and I tried to tell them 'I swear I can play a bit of footy'."
After being "accepted", Price was quickly impressed with Terrigal Avoca's "structures". He credited "cool heads" with reeling in City's 25-point lead at quarter-time and dominating the rest of the decider. He injured his knee in the semi a week prior.
Having now bought a house, Price said "we're all set" to stay.
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Josh Callinan
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
My name is Josh Callinan and I'm a sports journalist at the Newcastle Herald. I started with the newspaper in 2016 after a decade at the Maitland Mercury.
