COROWA-Rutherglen has lured inspirational midfielder Sam Carpenter back to John Foord Oval.
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And in a further boost to the Roos remaining a finals force, 2008 Doug Strang medallist Lee Schmidt will also return to the club after spending the past six seasons in South Australia.
Carpenter, 27, last played for Corowa-Rutherglen in 2008-09 where he won a best and fairest and finished runner-up in the Morris Medal in 2009.
He has spent the past two seasons with rival club Wangaratta Rovers.
The prolific ball winner enhanced his reputation as one of the premier midfielders in the Ovens and Murray after finishing third last year and runner-up this season in the Hawks’ best and fairest.
Carpenter said it was a tough decision to depart W.J. Findlay Oval.
“Rovers are a great club and that’s why it was such a tough decision to return to Corowa-Rutherglen,” Carpenter said.
“But the phase I’m at in my life now with a young family and having bought a house in Corowa and with 95 per cent of my work in the town, it’s probably the right time for me to come home.
“The travelling was also a factor and sometimes with work and footy it feels like you are never at home.
“Now I have made my decision I’m really looking forward to finishing my career at John Foord Oval.
“I turn 28 early next year and I will be playing at Corowa until my body tells me it’s had enough.”
Corowa-Rutherglen made finals for the first time in five years this season under coach Bryce Campbell and lost the elimination final to Wang- aratta Rovers by 13 points.
The Roos’ have re-signed the majority of their list and could go further up the ladder this season with the arrival of Schmidt expected to help ease the goalkicking pressure on key forward Luke Gestier.
Schmidt played from 2009-11 for South Adelaide in the SANFL before moving to the north of the state and commencing his career with South Augusta.
He won a league best and fairest with the club in 2012.
“The club has made some really good decisions both on and off the field the last couple of years and are definitely heading in the right direction,” Carpenter said.
“Bryce is a really honest coach who leads by example.”
