TRIPLE premiership player Charles Gaylard will make a surprise return to the Albury Sportsground next year.
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After spending the past four seasons with Heidelberg, the classy midfielder will travel back from Melbourne to build on his stellar 159-match career with the Tigers.
“It just worked out well to come back,” Gaylard, 30, said.
“It should be a bit of fun and hopefully we can play some good football.
“I’m looking forward to playing country footy again because it’s a different brand to the city.
“It’s going to be good catching up with ‘Fudgey’ (Luke Packer), Shaun (Daly), ‘Hydey’ (Chris Hyde), Luke Daly and all those blokes again after being away for a few years.”
Gaylard joined Heidelberg in 2014 and spent two seasons as a player at the Northern Football League club.
It should be a bit of fun and hopefully we can play some good football
- Charles Gaylard
He then took over as coach and tasted immediate success with the side winning the 2016 flag.
Albury co-coach Shaun Daly said the Tigers were thrilled to regain the Ovens and Murray representative.
“’Hydey’ and I have played in three flags with ‘Chugga’ and we pretty much stayed in contact the entire time,” Daly said.
“He’s definitely been one of my most respected teammates.
“He’s a local and wants to come back for the right reasons.
“It’s great players like ‘Chugga’ and Daniel Cross are keen to play for us because it says a bit about the culture of the club.
“He will be great for the group.”
Gaylard played in Albury’s 2009, 2010 and 2011 premierships and won the Did Simpson Medal in the third flag.
Former Albury defender Kieran Ellis has also returned to the Tigers after leaving in 2015 to join Collingwood’s VFL side.