Mitch Bagiante, pictured here evading a challenge last season for Yoogali SC, has signed for the Yoogali Football Club.
Football
IT IS Griffith's equivalent of moving from Liverpool to Manchester United or from AC Milan to Inter.
But Mitch Bagiante believes he has left Yoogali Soccer Club on good terms despite putting pen to paper with bitter rivals Yoogali Football Club for this season.
Coming off a breakthrough 2012 campaign which included 14 appearances in the Regional Premier League, the wide midfielder has opted to tread a path few others have before him in order to link up with some old friends at Noe Santolin Oval.
The 26-year-old risks the ruffling of a few feathers by making the transfer but said he had to do what was best for him.
"Obviously there's going to be people upset that I'm leaving but I had to make the decision for myself," Bagiante said.
"I've got a lot of respect for the people at the club like Tony Santolin, who is a big part of the reason why I am the player I am. It was hard telling him.
"It was a big decision to make and I have put a lot of thought into it.
"But I've got some pretty good mates out there and that was the drawcard. I played with them growing up and they're all out there now.
"Apparently YFC have got some big plans for this year as well."
The addition of Bagiante is a further boost to a Yoogali Football Club outfit that is firming as one of the pre-season favourites to take out the local competition.
YSC president Paul Fisher said he was "naturally disappointed" to see a key player leave.
"Mitch can do what he wants to do. You can't hold a player back if they want to move on," he said.
"If he wants to go, that's his choice. There are no burned bridges here or hard feelings.
"Generally with us and YFC, players are fairly loyal, so you don't get much happening between our clubs, but the reality is player migration at senior level happens."
