DEMONS TO SWOOP ON EX-MELBOURNE STAR
A FORMER AFL Demon looks set to become a TSL one with North Hobart on the verge of securing the services of Colin Garland.
The Mercury can reveal Garland, who has returned home from Melbourne for a few months, has been training with the Demons for the past week and could line up for the side if his reconstructed knee is given the all-clear by doctors.
His inclusion for a handful of matches would provide coach Richard Robinson with a much-needed injection of experience and leadership for an outfit that is winless and languishing at the bottom of the State League ladder.
Drafted by Melbourne from North Hobart with pick No. 46 in the 2006 draft, Garland played 141 games for the Demons in 11 seasons in the system. He received a Rising Star nomination in Round 14 of his second year and carved a repu- tation as one of the side’s most reliable defenders.
Garland, who turns 30 today, finished runner-up in Melbourne’s best and fairest in 2013 but missed the entire 2017 campaign after rupturing his ACL in a VFL practice match playing with Casey.
He was contracted for the 2018 AFL season but announced his retirement last October, remaining with the club in a range of coaching positions.
The 191cm backman also signed with Terang Mortlake in the Hampden league to play alongside former Melbourne teammate Jordie McKenzie.
“It has been great to have him around the club,” Robin- son said. “He is still a true professional, he prepares and trains like a true professional.
“The things he can teach the young guys about how to train and how to recover, we are very lucky to have someone like Colin who has said he will come back and help the club out.
“I will be chewing his ear off, it is just the little things he tells you that you can improve on, it will be invaluable for me. I am going to be like a sponge as well.
“We are in talks, he has been around the club, he is willing to help the guys. If his knee gets ticked off we are hopeful he will play a few games with us.”
Should North Hobart sign Garland, he will become the second former AFL player to join the State League in a fortnight after Lauderdale secured Jacob Gillbee (Gold Coast) last week.