GAV MCGRATH

05 Jul, 2012 12:21 AM

REDAN has been left stunned by current Rooster and former Lion Derick Micallef’s decision to turn his back on his old club and switch allegiances to Ballarat Football League rival North Ballarat City.

Micallef, who left the L&H Lions for the opportunity to play VFL football with North Ballarat in 2007, has nominated Peach’s North City as his “home club” when he is not playing for the Roosters.

The 25-year-old will not be eligible to play for North City this season even if his clearance is approved by Redan. In addition to the clearance, which was lodged on June 29, Micallef required a local interchange permit before June 30, which could not be filed until his clearance is approved.

While Micallef is unlikely to play with North City any time soon, Redan president Darryl Blomeley said the news came as a shock to his club.

“It has come out of the blue. You don’t expect this at this time of the year,” Blomeley said.

“We’re disappointed. He has come through our pathways. We promoted him to the highest level possible in the hope he’d come back to us.

“We weren’t naive enough to think North City wouldn’t put pressure on players when they are coming back from the VFL. You’d like to think this is an isolated incident. You have to promote young players to the highest level and if you do the right thing they would come back to us.”

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