The former captain and best and fairest applied for a clearance over the weekend and is set to line-up for the Bears in the Murray league against Numurkah on Saturday.

“He’s been a fantastic servant of the Yarrawonga footy club,” coach Damian Sexton said.

"Tungamah is his home club and, with his work on the farm and family commitments, O and M footy was getting tough for him.

“He’s an absolute ripper.

“He’s a quality player and person.”

Cooper was lured to J.C. Lowe Oval by Craig Ednie in 2010 with the tough centreman playing his 100^th match for Yarrawonga in 2015.

The Ovens and Murray representative went head-to-head with some of the league’s elite while at the peak of his powers including Matt Pendergast, Kade Stevens, Brad Murray and Joel Mackie.

While injuries and work have slowed his progress in recent seasons, Cooper was one of Yarrawonga’s best in its narrow preliminary final loss to eventual premier Wangaratta at Bunton Park last year.

Tungamah coach Jeremy O’Brien said the Bears were thrilled to have Cooper back at the club.

“We’re hoping he plays on Saturday,” O’Brien said.

“The crop is in so he’s got no excuses.

“He’s really good mates with Craig Whinray and wanted to come back to his home club.

“He’s going to be a handy inclusion for us.”

Tungamah has found the going tough since switching from the Picola and District to Murray league on the eve of the season due to a dispute with AFL Victoria.

“We are slowly getting there,”  O’Brien said.

“I don’t think we are far away.

“Hopefully we can win six to eight games.”