The former St Kilda and North Melbourne star will be the headline act in the Central Highlands Football League showdown with Beaufort and can’t wait to make his return to the game.

Dal Santo has not started in a competitive match since retiring from the AFL at the end of season 2016, but will pull on the boots this weekend to play alongside cousin Luke Stanton.

Stanton was recruited to Hepburn during the off-season and has played five of the opening seven games in 2017.

Dal Santo said he is looking forward to running out alongside Stanton, his friends and teammates Aron Burns and Sean Salmon and simply getting a feel for country football.

“It’s football at its purest – going to a country oval, playing in winter, getting out there and having a kick, competing and seeing if you’re any good or not,” Dal Santo told The Courier.

Dal Santo said he felt good at Monday night’s training session – his first chance to meet the Hepburn players and coaching staff – and was excited to be part of a team environment once again.

“That’s one thing when you finish up at any level – for me at AFL level – that you don’t have that friendship where you get to see the boys and train and play together. And then enjoy each other’s company after the game,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to that part as well.”

Dal Santo wouldn’t confirm whether or not he will return to play any more games for the Burras this season, but is aware of the importance of Saturday’s match for his new side.

Hepburn currently sits sixth on the senior ladder, three spots below Beaufort, which dropped its first game of the campaign last weekend against reigning back-to-back premiers Springbank.

“If we can get the win, it will obviously go a long way to getting ourselves in a position to be competitive at the end of the year,” Dal Santo said.

Saturday’s match will be played at Hepburn, with the clash set to get underway at 2.30pm.