North Ballarat signs ex-AFL player Matt Austin

NORTH Ballarat Football Club has signed former Brisbane Lions player Matt Austin for two seasons.The Roosters announced the signing yesterday before their first training session for 2012.Austin played 15 games for the Lions after being drafted with pick 56 in the 2007 AFL Draft. He was delisted at the end of last season.Roosters’ head coach Gerard FitzGerald was at the helm of the North Ballarat Rebels during Austin’s time in the TAC Cup and visited the 22-year-old within days of him returning from Brisbane.Austin said he was delighted when his former coach and old friend asked him to join North Ballarat.“I know Fitzy pretty well,” he said.“I’ve played under him before at the Rebels and I hold him in high regard and I respect him as a person.”Austin, who can play as a forward or midfielder, said he did not care what position he played as long as he enjoyed his football.FroEnjoying football and starting a university degree have been his main priorities since leaving the Lions but he said he would love another chance in the AFL.“I’ve sort of planned to just enjoy my footy and have a good crack here and sort of take control of the other things in my life,” he said.“I’m studying this year, so I’m looking for a life outside of football but if the opportunity arose to do it again then I’d definitely take it up.”In the meantime Austin is hell-bent on helping his new teammates return to the top of the VFL.The Roosters won three premierships in a row between 2008-10 and Austin believes the group can do it again this season. “Obviously they’ve been successful over the last three or four years,” he said. “Everyone thinks they’ve got a chance of going all the way again if things fall our way and we play good footy.”FitzGerald said Austin had impressed during pre-Christmas training and said he still had what it took to be an AFL footballer. “He’s a young man we hope to improve,” he said.“He has got himself quite fit and his attitude has been very strong.“It’s of my view that he’s young enough (to play AFL) and still wants to be a better player.”FitzGerald used former Roosters’ ruckman Orren Stephenson as an example to prove there is always a possibility of playing AFL.The 29-year-old was drafted by Geelong with pick #78 in last year’s draft.Follow @ballaratcourier