Former Hawthorn and Gold Coast player Campbell Brown will deliver Ballan a boost in its opening home game of the season this Saturday when he pulls on a Blues jumper.
Brown, a former premiership teammate of Ballan coach Mark Williams, will make his playing return in a one-off match to help the club kick off its Central Highlands Football League season.
Ballan president Billy Smith is excited at the prospect of seeing Brown in blue.
“With him playing with Mark [Williams] in the 2008 premiership, it’s just great to have two players of that quality in the same team,” Smith said.
Brown played 205 games and kicked 109 goals with Hawthorn and Gold Coast after making his debut in 2002, ending his career with a reputation as one of the hardest players of the modern era.
On top of his 2008 premiership, Brown was an All-Australian in 2007; he played in international rules series in 2006 and 2008, and represented Victoria in the 2008 state-of-origin game.
While Brown was suspended for 28 weeks throughout his AFL career, before that his “days off” in the local ranks added up to half the number, putting Brown below the 16-game threshold for limetime bans. His playing career ended in controversial circumstances. Gold Coast terminated his contract after he hit Suns teammate Steven May on an end-of-season trip.
Smith said: “We’re getting him for his football ability.
“We’re not interested in what’s gone on before. We’re looking at this one game as a great thing for the club.”
While Brown has a number of media commitments throughout the year, Smith said he was hopeful he might return for another game later in the season.
“We’ll see how this game goes, but hopefully there’s a chance to get him back later on,” Smith said.
He said Ballan was tracking well for a successful season under Williams.
“We had great numbers over the preseason, picked up some good players.”
Brown will run out for Ballan against Waubra at Ballan Football Oval this Saturday. The game kicks off at 2.30pm. Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for concession holders and pensioners; free for children under-18.
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