Pumas lure AFLchamp Archer home

By Paul Pickering
NORTH Melbourne champion Glenn Archer will play for Lyndale in the Southern Football League next month.
The recently-retired ‘Shinboner of the Century’ last week confirmed that he would pull on the boots for the Pumas in their Division Two clash with Caulfield on Saturday, 28 June.
It will be something of a homecoming for Archer, who played his junior footy at Lyndale and Noble Park before coming to prominence under Denis Pagan in North Melbourne’s under-19s.
Lyndale president Murray Collard welcomed Archer’s decision to return to the club, joking that it was the result of incessant badgering from some old mates.
“We’ve known him for 25 or 30 years and we’ve always hoped that a bloke like that would come back to the club,” Collard said.
“So once he finished his AFL career, we thought we’d put a bit of a proposal together and see if he could do it.
“Last week he said yes.”
While Archer initially committed to playing just a half, Collard is optimistic that the rugged defender’s competitive instincts will keep him on the ground for longer.
“I reckon we can stretch his arm and try and get a whole game out of him,” he laughed.
“Hopefully he can hide in a forward pocket and kick a few goals for us.”
Archer’s appearance will no doubt be a huge drawcard for the club, but Collard is more interested in the effect his presence will have on some of the young Pumas.
“I told him that I don’t care if he just tosses the coin and pretends to do his hammy in the first quarter. It’d just be a big thrill for the younger guys to run out next to him.”
Collard confirmed that arrangements are also being made for an after-match function to celebrate Archer’s return.