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WANGARATTA Rovers have landed a recruiting coup to match Brendan Fevola's arrival, signing former AFL champion Barry Hall.
The Hawks confirmed the signing to
It is not yet known how many games Hall will play, or when he will debut, but the club expects him to play a handful of matches, plus finals, if Rovers make the top five.
Hall retired from AFL last year after 289 games with the Sydney Swans (162), St Kilda (88) and the Western Bulldogs (39).
He co-captained Sydney to its drought-breaking 2005 premiership, and was the AFL Coaches Association's Player of the Year that season.
Hall has kicked 746 AFL goals, the 14th-highest goalkicker of all time, and was a four-time All-Australian.
His signing with Wangaratta Rovers tops an already bumper season of Ovens and Murray signings.
The league now boasts a forward line to almost make Hall's former team, the Western Bulldogs, jealous.
Ex-Carlton star Brendan Fevola (623 career goals) is playing home games and finals for Yarrawonga.
Meanwhile, 2011 leading VFL goalkicker Patty Rose is playing for the Wodonga Raiders.
The Rovers sent the O&M rumour mill into overdrive this morning when they teasingly tweeting about the impending announcement.
WATCH THIS SPACE we will announce SUPERSTAR ExAFL player 2 join club 2morrow. See him train Fri nte frm 5.30pm,drinks&meals C U there!— WANGARATTA ROVERS (@WANGROVERS) May 8, 2012
"WATCH THIS SPACE we will announce SUPERSTAR ExAFL player 2 join club 2morrow. See him train Fri nte frm 5.30pm, drinks&meals C U there!," the tweet read.
Wangaratta Rovers play against Fevola's Pigeons in round 12 on Saturday, July 7.
That game is at Rovers' home ground, which would normally rule out Fevola playing.
However, it has been revealed the Hawks are considering paying Fevola's match fee to ensure the crowd-pulling forward plays for Yarrawonga.
Myrtleford did just that to great success earlier in the season, pulling a huge, and lucrative, crowd of over 3000 people to their home ground.
Wangaratta president Mark Booth hinted at the Rovers' desire to have the Hall-Fevola double in a radio interview with OAK FM on Saturday.
Click play to hear the interview.
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How did the Rovers do it? When will Barry Hall debut in the brown and gold?
Comprehensive coverage in Thursday's The Border Mail.
With Jake Bourke and Matt Cram