MYRTLEFORD coach Brad Murray is hopeful former Essendon champion Scott Lucas’ signing will open a new recruiting network for the Ovens and Murray club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Murray said yesterday the town was buzzing with news Lucas had committed to play in the Saints’ opening two home matches and believed the spin-offs would be enormous on and off the ground.
“Scott Lucas played 270 games, won a premiership and two best and fairests at Essendon and I think he’ll be awesome across the board,” Murray said.
“We’re rapt. It’s going to be huge for the club and town.
“The playing group will feed off him and hopefully we can dip into his network as well,” Murray said.
“He might be a handy bloke to have up our sleeve with his contacts.
“It could have a real snowball effect and make things a bit easier for us as a club.”
Lucas, 35, last played for Greenvale in the Essendon District Football League in 2011 but has kept himself fit and will train at Myrtleford in the lead-up to the Easter Sunday and Anzac Day matches against Lavington and Wangaratta at McNamara Reserve.
The clash against the Panthers shapes as a potential financial bonanza for the Saints with Lucas a chance of lining up on St Kilda recruit Justin Koschitzke.
Murray said Myrtleford would speak to Lucas about the prospect of playing more matches.
“Down the track there could be a possibility,” he said.
“Scott will train with our Melbourne boys for a while and that’s going to be really good in regards to bouncing ideas off him.
“He has his media and player managing commitments and it’s just a matter of how it all fits in.”
Murray had no hesitation in labelling Lucas the highest profile player for the Saints since Gary Ablett in the 1980s.
“Having a player of his profile is going to be great,” he said.
“I would definitely say he’s the biggest profile player we have had besides Gary Ablett but even then Gary Ablett really made his name at Geelong after he had played for Myrtleford.”
Myrtleford takes on Wodonga Raiders at Birallee Park in its season opener before hosting Lavington and Wangaratta on April 20 and April 25.
