Being a small forward is often described as the hardest position to play on a football ground, yet Sherif Mohamed makes it look easy.
Mohamed will be running rings around opposition sides in new colours this season after signing with Western Region Football League club Caroline Springs.
Mohamed is no stranger to the league’s division 2 competition, winning a premiership with Yarraville-Seddon in 2012.
That year he booted 71 goals to go with the 137 he totalled in the previous two seasons.
Caroline Springs football manager Marc Raak says Mohamed has impressed everyone at the club.
“We’re absolutely rapt to have him on board,” Raak said. “He fills a bit of a hole when it comes to that small, goal-kicking forward … he’s well known in the competition and he’s a great recruit.”
Mohamed’s presence in the forward line will go a long way to filling the void left by key forward Shaun Buttigieg-Clarke.
After booting more than 100 goals for Caroline Springs last season, Buttigieg-Clarke has moved to division 1 side Spotswood.
“We wish Shaun all the best,” Raak said. “It’s disappointing he’s left, but he left on good terms.
“We’re hopeful he might come back to our club one day.”
The Lakers have also added David Clarke, from the Ballarat Football League, who will play in the midfield.
Caroline Springs has played multiple intra-club matches in the pre-season and will take on Hepburn in its first practice match.
While happy with how the club is progressing, Raak believes the Lakers will know more about where they stand after round one when they take on last year’s grand finalist, West Footscray.
“We want to be a part of that top four and we’re putting all our energy into playing West Footscray in that first round,” Raak said.
“We were very competitive against them last season and they went on to play in the grand final.
“We’ll know exactly where we are at
5 o’clock after that first game.”
Liam Twomey
