Former Coolamon gun and Carlton footballer Michael Gibbons is headed to the Ovens and Murray League, with Yarrawonga producing a major coup, signing him for three years straight out of the AFL.
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Once again, the town's reputation as a holiday destination played a role with the 26-year-old's parents owning a house in the booming centre, where he's spent the last five Christmases.
Quite remarkably, the Pigeons have now landed three boom recruits with a holiday link after Eastern Football League superstar Leigh Williams and Geelong Football League defender Jye Cross spent time there as youngsters.
The club had earlier signed Nick Fothergill who, like Gibbons, spent time at Williamstown.
"There's just so many aspects of the town and the community and Michael fell in love with it," football director Leigh Ramsdale offered.
"He also played alongside (Yarrawonga players) Leigh Masters and Willie Wheeler at Williamstown, we couldn't be happier to have a guy like that locked in for three years and will be great for our younger group."
The Pigeons haven't finished in the top five the past two seasons, but the quality of the recruits, along with further star quality of coach Mark Whiley, Harry Wheeler etc and the strong batch of youngsters, should guarantee a return to finals.
"Definitely there will be no pressure from our end, we just want Michael to enjoy his footy again," Ramsdale revealed after Gibbons was controversially delisted by Carlton in October.
"We've had some superstar on-ballers in Craig Ednie, Timmy Hargreaves, Jason Wild, Les Parish and we think Michael has the ability to be one of the better players we've had."
We've had some superstar on-ballers ... and we think Michael has the ability to be one of the better players.
- Leigh Ramsdale
After a stellar VFL career, winning two club best and fairests and two league medals, the J.J. Liston Trophy, Gibbons joined the Blues and played 47 matches as a small forward after previously starring as a midfielder.
The Coolamon junior knocked on the door of the AFL for years before being given a chance by the Blues when he was signed in February 2019.
Meanwhile, former Collingwood star Dane Swan will play for Billabong Crows in 2022.
The 2011 Brownlow medallist, 37, has agreed to make a one-off appearance for the Hume league outfit ahead of hosting a sportsman's night function.
Details around Swan's appearance will be confirmed once the 2022 fixture is finalised.
"Swanny is still match fit as he's been playing and training regularly down in Melbourne since his retirement from the AFL three years ago," a Crows statement said.
"He'll have a full pre-season under his belt and will be in peak condition when he pulls on the Crows jumper next year."
Swan played more than 250 games for Collingwood and was part of the Magpies side which won the 2010 premiership.
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