COURTENAY Dempsey walked into the EDFL looking for a new opportunity to re-discover his true love of football.
Dempsey was a hard battler in his years at Essendon, both on and off the field.
Not only was he one of the most ruthless defenders in the competition, but he was also faced with a number of injuries and of course.
But following his 133-game stint at Essendon which spanned a decade, Dempsey is hoping to bring experience to the EDFL Interleague squad as they continue their thorough preparations to take on the Eastern Football League this Saturday.
The 29-year-old admits that “a lot of these players understand the football game really well”, but is still eager to further develop the talent present in the team, in order to really take it up to the strength and versatility of the EFL’s players.
For him personally, Dempsey is looking forward to not only a good hit-out against the EFL, but also to start enjoying footy again.
“I’ve come down to the EDFL and I’m enjoying it. I’m finding the love of the game again and the reason why I enjoy playing footy,” Dempsey said.
“It’s a lot more exciting than I expected it to be. I’m enjoying the time out there and enjoying having fun all the time.”
He also likes the fact the footy can be “serious when it needs to be”, highlighting not only the entertainment factor of the EDFL, but the serious competitiveness present in the league.
Despite possessing the talent that he has, the former Essendon defender admitted that he didn’t expect to be picked in the Interleague side in his first year as an EDFL footballer.
In fact, he didn’t even know there was an Interleague competition.
However, Dempsey is very appreciative of getting another opportunity to showcase his talent and skills Bayswater on Saturday.
“I’m very honoured to be picked in it EDFL Interleague squad and hopefully I’ll be able to get a run in the game,” Dempsey said.
The Greenvale defender is confident that the EDFL Interleague side can match it with the third-ranked EFL, praising the talent and the experience of the players who received the honour to play in the squad.
“We are understanding that the EFL is a very tough league but in saying that, we are a very tough league as well and we can hit it up with any other competition in Victoria,” Dempsey said.
Despite having only five games under his belt in the EDFL, Dempsey admits that “the standard’s actually a really good standard of footy”, giving an indication of the level of competitiveness that the Interleague side is hoping to bring over to Bayswater.
Not only is he focused on getting a win, but Dempsey is aiming to enjoy his time out at Bayswater, rubbing shoulders with the EDFL’s finest.
The Interleague journey for Courtenay Dempsey is one of self-discovery, enjoyment and determination to take a victory back to his new home in the EDFL.
