ALBURY recruit Jeff Garlett is cherry ripe to do some damage in the Ovens and Murray, according to Nightcliff coach Chris Baksh.
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Baksh said Garlett looked ominous for Southern Districts against Nightcliff in Saturday's Northern Territory league preliminary final and expects him to bring that form to the Border.
The delisted Melbourne player kicked 16 goals in 11 matches.
"He took a while to get into it up here but once he did he was very vital for Southern Districts," Baksh said.
"He's elusive and really good with the young fellas.
"He was like a coach for Southern Districts out on the ground.
"He played his best footy in the finals ... he did some damage."
While Garlett played mainly as a forward for Southern Districts, Baksh said the 30-year-old would be more than capable of playing in the midfield for Albury.
"He's a smart crumber and still looks pretty fit," he said.
He's a smart crumber and still looks pretty fit. He will be very lively in the Ovens and Murray
- Chris Baksh
"I think he will be very lively in the Ovens and Murray."
Baksh, a former CDHBU premiership player, coached Nightcliff to a drought-breaking Northern Territory premiership last season.
Garlett topped Carlton's goalkicking in 2013 and Melbourne's in 2017 before being cut by the Demons last year after 185 AFL matches.
He was swamped by offers before committing to the Tigers with his links to Albury premiership midfielder Daniel Cross believed to be crucial to his decision.
Albury is yet to make a decision on whether it will clear Elliott Powell to Dederang-Mt Beauty.