All roads lead to Echuca for the Reids.
The Murray Bombers have welcomed former GWS veteran Sam Reid to Vic Park in one of the signings of the Goulburn Valley League off-season.
The former Giants swingman cited family and a change of scenery as the impetus to trade the charcoal and orange for the bottle green of Echuca, despite another year at the elite level on the table for the 108-gamer.
After overcoming significant challenges during his 14-year career in the AFL, he admitted it was time for a change.
“I was weighing everything up. I had an opportunity to play another year in the AFL at another club. I was tossing up whether to do that or to move down here,” he said.
“I won’t try and play (AFL) again, I would have thought. At some stage I might get back into coaching but with a young family, I want most of my weekends and less travel.
“I’ll put (AFL) on hold for now. I’m pretty excited and comfortable, and I’ve been loving it here in Echuca.
“We thought Echuca was the best option and I’ve wanted to play with (brother) Ben for pretty much my whole life, which we now get to do in a team that’s done pretty well.”
The Reid family ties at the club run all the way back to the 1980s.
In recent times, mercurial defender Ben chalked up more than 50 games for the club before he was recruited for a five-season stint with Geelong’s VFL outfit.
But before him, it was Jeff Reid who donned the jumper for two seasons in the early 1980s under coaches Mick Lovison and legendary Murray Bomber John Haw.
A key player with the ability to play around the ground, Jeff booted 70 goals in his first season at the club.
“Everyone I bump into goes ‘how good is it to have both sons playing in town?’,” Jeff said.
“For (Sam) to come back and play for Echuca, it’s amazing.
“They played the Jason Akermanis Cup in primary school. Sam was in Year 7, Ben was in Year 4.
“That would have been 20 years ago — that’s how long it’s been since they played together.
“They’ll be excited, like I will be.”
A start date is yet to be announced for the beginning of the Goulburn Valley League season, but the first game in Echuca looks sure to draw a big crowd to see the club’s star recruit hit the park.