{xtypo_dropcap}A{/xtypo_dropcap}drian Bromage played only fifty games for East Fremantle over three seasons, but left a lasting impression on East Fremantle fans in particular and WAFL supporters in general.

From the Victorian timber town of Bruthen, Bromage formed a lasting association with the blue and whites, and still enjoys a close bond with the club and ex team mates.

“From the day we first floated the idea of coming West as the first leg of a world trip, we were hugely impressed with the East Fremantle Football Club,” he said. “And that hasn't changed.”

An outstanding junior at Bairnsdale, where he was a league representative throughout his junior years, playing Teal Cup, he was a leading candidate to be drafted in the initial year of AFL drafting. “I was a bit mixed up at that stage, as a lot of young blokes are,” he recalls, “I didn't take it seriously enough.” Attending University at eighteen, before returning home, he and wife Rachel got an urge to travel, with Perth the first port of call. “Blokes I knew, Jason Sherrif and Bryce Steele, were playing in WA with East Fremantle and West Perth respectively, and they both called me up, followed quickly by their clubs. East Fremantle's Kim Barrett, Len Hitchen and later Tony Micale were fantastic, so I ended up at Moss St.”

Bromage's first season here gave little indication of the impression he was to later make on the local competition.

Arriving in late February with little pre season behind him, Adrian was unprepared for the different pace and the heat on the bigger WAFL grounds. “I played a scratch match against South Fremantle in forty degrees and at half time I was buggered.” An interchange player in a losing side in round one against Swan Districts, he later found himself in defence. “It was a good grounding for me, and helped me to adjust as I gradually regained fitness,” he said.

After a seventy point mauling of West Perth in the first semi final, East Fremantle went down to Claremont by forty two points in the preliminary final. “I had my work cut out on Don Pyke, and he took my pants down,” he ruefully remembers.

Bromage had the benefit of a full pre season preparation in 1997, and it made a massive difference.

“It was an awesome year at East Fremantle,” he said. “Highlighted by a memorable function mid year, the place was abuzz for their centenary celebrations.” The Sharks went into the grand final as hot favourites against old rivals South and looked well in control at three quarter time. The Bulldogs came from behind to win by four points. “It was one that got away,” said Adrian. “They got a few early in the last term, and the momentum stayed with them. I was going OK, but a fresh David Hart got away from me late and snared a couple of big ones.”

The loss was shattering for East Fremantle, and it was the devastation the players felt that laid the groundwork for the 1998 premiership.

“Rachel and I had planned to leave on our trip after the 97 season, and there were several others at the club who were also moving on,” said Adrian. “The team and club spirit was such that we all decided to stay. The club once again was fantastic, shouting us a two week holiday.”

It proved to be a wise decision for the Victorian.

The experience of being part of the closely knit group the East Fremantle side were in 1998 remains just as much a highlight for Bromage as the premiership they won. “Micale was a great coach,” he said. “We had a fantastic team relationship, with a triathlon series every Sunday encouraging competition within the group, and blokes behind the scenes like Judgey and Len Hitchen. I have never seen such competitiveness at training.” Bromage represented Western Australia that year against South Australia, won the Sandover Medal, and was awarded the Simpson Medal following the Sharks premiership triumph over West Perth, but it was the achievements of a team on a mission that took pride of place for the midfielder.

Departing the WA scene on a high, Adrian Bromage had visions of eventually coming back to East Fremantle, but a business opportunity back in country Victoria was too good to refuse. Originally an accommodation business, his venture at the Gippsland Lakes has since grown into a five star boutique accommodation complex  called 5 Knots Apartments, incorporating Director Boat charters from an adjacent marina. He is currently project managing a new 40 berth marina and 9 house development – Beaches @ Kings Cove, Metung.

Adrian's coaching career complements his playing achievements.

He coached Bairnsdale for five seasons, for four premierships and a runner up, with the club now enjoying a record of eight flags in eleven years. Bromage is still heavily involved at Bairnsdale Football Club despite a full work load, and continues to play a leading role in junior development in the area. He is an instigator in the move of the Bairnsdale Football Club to re enter the strong Gippsland League next season.

Don Pyke, the Rigol brothers, and Peter Worsfold were players who stick in Adrian's mind as tough to beat, while he admired the talents of team mates Martin Melody, Earl Spalding, Steve Malaxos, and Rhett Bowden, and “cherishes” the memory of mate Damian Condon kicking the wrong way twice in the one game.

Bromage has maintained his fitness, to the extent that he is planning a marathon run. He has many friends in Western Australia, and enjoys getting over here whenever the opportunity arises. He is unashamedly fond of the West, and says he'd love to see plenty of sandgropers who may be travelling around the Bairnsdale area. “Find us at http://www.5knots.com.au

“We'll look after you, especially if you like a yarn about footy,” he laughed.

Adrian has served as Chairperson of East Gippsland Region Business and Tourism Association and the Shire’s Tourism Advisory Board, as well as the East Gippsland Economic Development Advisory board.  

Adrian Bromage has achieved much in the sporting field as well as in business. Chatting with the man, it's obvious that his three year stay at East Fremantle was not only one of football success, but the experience he had there with the group and mentors was something that served him well in later life, both as coach and businessman.

The man who confesses he would love to get back to WA is also doing his utmost to lure us to his magnificent holiday complex.