While Brendan Fevola is hardly a stranger to Yarrawonga after 357 goals, 65 games and two premierships since first playing for the Pigeons in 2012, Barnes said the town was abuzz ahead of the full-forward's guest appearance against Wangaratta Rovers on Sunday.

The match at Mulwala’s Lonsdale Reserve will be the former Carlton champion’s first game for the Pigeons since winning reality television series I'm a Celebrity....Get Me Out of Here and Barnes said the playing group could barely contain its excitement.

“Some of these guys that haven’t played with him before are walking around with big grins on their faces thinking ‘I’m going to play with Brendan’,” he said.

“We’ve seen that excitement from a lot of the players once the whisper went around he might play.

“It’s not just the younger fellas, you’re talking guys like Tom Walliss and Rhys O’Sullivan, who are 25 and 28, but genuinely excited about him coming back to the club.

“There’s a real sense of excitement, not only in the footy club but the community and surrounding areas.

“His success in the jungle has definitely created a bit more interest around his profile, which hopefully helps us draw a big crowd.”

Fevola, who will play for Deer Park this season, lined up for Tasmanian club Perth in a guest appearance on Saturday.

Barnes said Sunday’s game against Wangaratta Rovers, which will coincide with the opening of the Brendan Fevola Bar, was a “celebration for everything he did for Yarrawonga”.

“It’s a last hurrah for everyone to have the opportunity to come and watch him locally,” he said