DAYLESFORD has landed its biggest recruiting coup since the famed return of favourite son Chris Grant, securing former North Melbourne player Corey Jones for a one-off game.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Jones will play for the Bulldogs next week against Creswick and is also a chance of returning for another match later in the season.
Although he plays for Bendigo Football League side Golden Square, he will be granted a clearance to the Central Highlands Football League for the special appearance.
Bulldogs president Bernie Jurcan said Jones, 34, was close friends with club committee member Leo Schlink, who helped lure him to the club.
He said Jones asked little in return for his appearance, making it a win-win situation for the club.
“We’re a very young team and the kids will get a massive confidence boost playing alongside someone who was a great AFL player,” Jurcan said.
Jones played 157 games for the Kangaroos over a 10-year career, retiring in 2010.
He also spent time with the North Ballarat Roosters, kicking 89 goals in 34 games, also playing in the 2009 and 2010 VFL premierships. He is in his second year in the Bendigo Football League, where he kicked 52 goals and won Golden Square’s best and fairest last year.
Jurcan said about 4000 people watched on when Chris Grant made a one-off return to the club in 2008, booting 10 goals.
Although it is unlikely a crowd quite as big as that will attend, Jurcan said he still anticipated a massive turnout for the day.
“Corey is still one of the best country footballers going around,” he said.
Daylesford, which has lost its first two matches, will face arch-rival Hepburn on Saturday.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au