Yarrawonga signs ex-Carlton forward and former VFL star Michael Gibbons

Once again, the town's reputation as a holiday destination played a role with the 26-year-old's parents owning a house in the booming centre, where he's spent the last five Christmases.

Quite remarkably, the Pigeons have now landed three boom recruits with a holiday link after Eastern Football League superstar Leigh Williams and Geelong Football League defender Jye Cross spent time there as youngsters.

The club had earlier signed Nick Fothergill who, like Gibbons, spent time at Williamstown.

"There's just so many aspects of the town and the community and Michael fell in love with it," football director Leigh Ramsdale offered.

"He also played alongside (Yarrawonga players) Leigh Masters and Willie Wheeler at Williamstown, we couldn't be happier to have a guy like that locked in for three years and will be great for our younger group."

The Pigeons haven't finished in the top five the past two seasons, but the quality of the recruits, along with further star quality of coach Mark Whiley, Harry Wheeler etc and the strong batch of youngsters, should guarantee a return to finals.

"Definitely there will be no pressure from our end, we just want Michael to enjoy his footy again," Ramsdale revealed after Gibbons was controversially delisted by Carlton in October.

"We've had some superstar on-ballers in Craig Ednie, Timmy Hargreaves, Jason Wild, Les Parish and we think Michael has the ability to be one of the better players we've had."

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After a stellar VFL career, winning two club best and fairests and two league medals, the J.J. Liston Trophy, Gibbons joined the Blues and played 47 matches as a small forward after previously starring as a midfielder.

Officials have again praised the enormous commitment of off-field personnel.

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