NORTH ALBURY recruit Jacob Smith says a lack of recent football was instrumental in him joining the Riverina league.
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Smith signed with Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes before last Friday's deadline and is set to play against Turvey Park on Saturday.
The 20-year-old joined North Albury over the summer after previous stints with Footscray in the VFL and has spent the past two seasons at Werribee Districts.
Smith missed last year with injury and was keen to get some game time under his belt ahead of next season.
"Because I missed last year and haven't played so far this season, if I didn't play it would be two years without playing which is far from ideal," Smith said.
"So I had a few training runs with Mangoplah and was going to play before the border restrictions and Albury based players were banned from the competition.
"Then on Friday the coach Jeremy Rowe rang me and said Albury based players were allowed to play if I was still interested.
"I'm still keen to play, so I'll pull the boots on Saturday and see how I go."
IN OTHER NEWS
The Goannas have also signed Corowa-Rutherglen recruits Trent Castles and Chris Willis.
Smith said missing last season had fuelled his desire to play in the shortened AFL Riverina season despite no Hopper teammates playing in the competition.
"I've missed playing football," he said.
"So if there was any chance of playing this year I wanted to be a part of it.
"It wasn't a hard choice to play and it was an easy decision to make."
Smith has been helping coach North Albury under-16s who played Lavington in a practice match last weekend.
Trent Cohalan is set to play his 300th match for the Goannas on Saturday.
MCUE should be able to celebrate the milestone with a win with Turvey Park the only side yet to win a match.
