North Melbourne champion Glenn Archer will return to Lyndale’s Barry Powell Reserve this Saturday for the Pumas’ game against Caulfield.By Paul Pickering
GLENN Archer isn’t sure what to expect from his long-awaited return to Barry Powell Reserve this weekend.
Almost two decades after playing his first game with Lyndale, the North Melbourne champion will pull on the jumper again for the Pumas’ clash with Caulfield in the Southern Football League’s Division Two on Saturday.
On the eve of his feted – and fleeting – comeback this week, Archer’s only prediction was he would be hurting when the final siren sounded.
“I am looking forward to it, but I played half a game (in the Victorian Amateur Football Association) earlier in the year and struggled a fair bit, so I’m not looking forward to the pain afterwards,” he laughed.
“I’m probably looking forward more to the after-match goings on.”
Still, the prospect of catching up with some old mates over a beer wasn’t necessarily what lured him back to Lyndale.
The urgings of Pumas’ president Murray Collard and company played a part, but Archer said he always wanted to have one final kick at Lyndale.
“I went and had a walk around the ground awhile back and it brought back some childhood memories, so it’ll definitely be a bit surreal (to play there again),” he said.
“I played 10 years at Lyndale, and I’ve always had in the back of my mind that I’d go back there at some stage.
“Obviously it’s about giving something back to the club, and if it can help the young blokes out and help make some money for the club, that’s great.”
Given that Lyndale has only registered one win this season, the home fans will be hoping Archer’s presence can inspire the Pumas to an unlikely victory.
For his part, Archer says he is no saviour, but he might have some ideas.
“Hopefully they’re not expecting too much of me,” he joked.
“But they’ve already played Caulfield and got whacked (by 90 points), so maybe we’ll try and work something out for Saturday.”
Win or lose, the clubrooms will be full after the match.
Archer will be hosting a sportsman’s night beginning at 7pm, with memorabilia auctions, raffles and reminiscing on the agenda.
Tickets for $5 are still available for the night and can be purchased by calling Murray Collard on 0405 124 841.
