From The Courier - Reported by David Brehaut
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NEW CLUB: Joel Ottavi is aiming to be in the blue and gold of the Williamstown Seagulls in VFL next season.
East Point premiership player Joel Ottavi has changed VFL clubs.
The versatile tall has moved from Essendon to Williamstown – a shift which will enhance his prospects of establishing a VFL career.
Ottavi, 22, spent two seasons with the Bombers.
He managed just five games with Essendon, with three in 2017 and two this year.
With Williamstown being a standalone team without an AFL alliance, Ottavi will have a much better opportunity of breaking into the side than at Essendon where AFL-listed players make up the bulk of the VFL team each week.
Seagulls football general manager Stephen Soulsby said Ottavio would continue to develop at VFL level having spent two seasons with Essendon.
“We believe he will definitely benefit from being in our program,” he said.
Ottavi joined East Point this year after spending 2017 with Keilor in the Essendon District Football League.
It was at the urging of Essendon coach and East Point champion goalkicker Dan Jordan that Ottavi joined East Point rather than returning to his former club Buninyong in the CHFL.
Jordan indicated that Ottavi needed to play at a higher standard than the CHFL, saying the Ballarat league was the minimum standard he should play if he was to further his development with the Bombers.
Ottavi played 16 games with East Point and kicked 40 goals, with his games with Essendon coming late in the season.
He has re-signed with the Kangaroos for their premiership defence this year.
