Werribee recruit Charlie Lazzaro wants to get back to enjoying his football.
Lazzaro joins the Tigers after one year at fellow Victorian Football League club Port Melbourne after being delisted by North Melbourne.
He said he felt Werribee and where he wanted to take his football aligned.
“It’s very exciting and very much looking forward to kind of a new chapter and being able to join a club that has been so successful over the last five years or so,” he said.
“It’s probably the culmination of things like growing up in Geelong and there’s always a bit of a pull down towards Werribee, and a lot of very good friends who I played a lot of junior football with play here.
“The other one was probably around some opportunity stuff with where I saw my career going.
“I really enjoyed my time at Port but just felt like a bit of a difference in where I saw myself going and where they saw me going.”
Lazzaro said the opportunity to reunite with mates, like Jay Dahlhaus, was something he was looking forward to.
Ajang Kuol Mun, who was also at Port Melbourne, has come across to the Tigers too, giving Lazzaro another familiar face.
Lazzaro, who played 39 AFL games, said returning to the AFL was something that he was focused on.
But at the same time he’s realistic that he might not get another opportunity.
“I think it’s a tough one as I kind of know where I’m at in terms of being 23,” he said.
“I feel like I know my game really well and comfortable with where my game is heading, in terms of strengths and weaknesses in terms of being a player but know that I am running out of time.
“Mature agers is something clubs are looking at now which is awesome, but careers don’t last forever.
“I certainly have a desire to get back there, moving to Werribee is a big factor helping me work on some of my weaknesses.”
Lazzaro said knowing Werribee was a place that recruiters looked at was something he was aware of and that comes down to the people at the top and all the way through.
After not much team success for Lazarro the past few years, there’s a real focus on trying to play finals.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve certainly played finals, really looking forward to setting that as benchmark this year,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to going out and playing and enjoying my footy again, that’s a big factor.”
Lazzaro will have the most AFL experience on the Werribee list this season.
He said he would look to pass on his experiences, while also looking up to Werribee’s existing leaders.
“I’ll try and support Jesse [Clark] and Dom [Brew], obviously Louis Pinnuck has been there for a long time,” he said.
“Dom has basically won every award in the VFL he has been super in terms of helping me transition into the club.
“I’ll be supporting those guys as much as I can .I definitely have some experience that I have been able to share at various stages, supporting them and helping them lead the group and the environment they’ve created.”
With practice matches around the corner, Lazzaro is itching to just get out there.
“It’s been a long pre-season, super excited,” he said.
“This time of year everyone is eager to put their best foot forward.”
“It’ll be exciting see some of the younger guys.”
