Diggers Rest pulled off a mid-season coup last week, signing former West Coast Eagles player Callum Wilson.
The Burras secured the 25-year-old for the rest of the season as the Riddell District Football League’s transfer deadline drew to a close.
Wilson was drafted by West Coast at pick number 55 in the 2008 rookie draft.
He was upgraded to the club’s senior list in 2010 before being delisted a year later.
In his time as an Eagle, Wilson played seven games and kicked 13 goals.
He had an immediate impact for his new club on Saturday, kicking two goals and helping to secure a 7.12 (54) to 5.7 (37) win against Macedon.
Diggers Rest senior coach Shaun Sims was delighted to have Wilson on board and is confident his new recruit can fill a variety of roles.
“He’s pretty versatile,” Sims said.
“I think he was drafted as a centre half back but played as a centre half forward for West Coast.
“He’ll be able to play a range of positions for us. I know he has played in the midfield and full forward. He will certainly add some versatility to our team.”
After his AFL career ended, Wilson went on to play one season for South Australian National Football League side Port Adelaide Magpies.
Since then he has been focusing his attention on making it to the top in another sport.
Wilson, who has a booming kick, has tried his hand at being a gridiron punter.
“He had time off footy to concentrate on that [punting],” Sims said.
“He just got itchy feet to play footy again and we’re more than happy to take a player of his calibre to our club, that’s for sure.
“He’s still doing the punting. He just wanted to have a kick and we sat down and had a meeting with him. He’s more than happy to come and play with us for the rest of the year, which is great.”
The signing of Wilson will go some way to covering for the loss of Burras’ star Brent Tuckey who injured his elbow earlier in the season, although Sims is hopeful the pair will be able to play together later in the year.
“Brent’s going well,” Sims said.
“He gets off his brace in the next two weeks.
“He is still a while away but we’re hopeful of getting him back before the end of the season.”
