The Ballarat Football League club revealed at a training session on Wednesday night that it had secured the star 31-year-old.

Parker, a long-time servant of the Kookaburras, said the appointment of Goodes was another significant step in the club’s rebirth, following the appointment of head coach Shane Snibson at the end of 2014.

“I'm very confident that, when we look back in a few years time, that getting Shane Snibson and Brett Goodes will have been a turning point in our history,” Parker said.

“We knew that we couldn’t continue on as we had been the last ten years and something needed to change.

“With these two, there are no better people to lead us into becoming a better, more competitive club.”

Parker, who currently works in Sebastopol’s football department, has seen both the highs and dismal lows of the club.

Despite being more competitive on the field in 2015 – Snibson’s first season as the helm – the Kookaburras still only won the solitary game.

Parker said signing Goodes would not only lend the club greater credibility in the football community, but it was also a reward for those who have stuck with the club during the hard times. 

“We wanted to get quality people into the club and Brett ticks all the boxes. He’s a fantastic guy and a great footballer,” Parker said.

“Not only does it give ‘Snibbo’ the support that we’re been trying to give him; it gives back to the playing list, which has been amazingly loyal.

“For years we said that we were recruiting aggressively. There were a lot of empty promises made.

“This will give them a really big lift.”

Parker also said the club’s youngsters have been given a strong role model to follow. 

“You can't ask for a better mentor. To get into the AFL system at the age he did proves how much he was willing to persevere and achieve his goals.”