By Casey Neill
Former AFL star Stephen Milne is pulling on the boots for Woori Yallock.
The St Kilda Football Club Hall of Fame member will trade red, white and black for black and yellow on Saturday 6 July.
The one-off game against Wandin is a move the 39-year-old and Woori Yallock hope will bring in some much-needed funds for the club.
Milne told the Mail met a Woori Yallock Football Netball Club member at an interleague match and over a few post-match beers said he’d be happy to help out.
He retired from local footy last year but said his body was holding up OK.
“And I want to give something back to the community,” he said.
“I’ve done seven or eight over last three or four years.
“I’ll train with the boys on the Thursday night before the match.
“I’m looking forward to getting out there, getting a few kicks and hopefully getting the crowds in.”
The 275 AFL game goal sneak recently played similar matches in Perth and Lower Plenty, so is feeling match-fit.
“It takes a lot longer to recover,” he said.
“I can’t do I like I did many years ago, week in week out.
“I still stay fit – relatively. It’s a bit harder with work and kids.
He said he still enjoyed the competitive spirit of playing AFL, getting out there and meeting new guys, the footy club atmosphere and a bit of banter.
Milne was renowned for revving up the Saints cheer squad during his playing days and said he’d do his best to get the Woori crowd firing.
“If I kick a couple of snags I’ll try and get them up and about,” he said.
He might have to don his trademark long-sleeve guernsey to weather the Yarra Valley’s winter temperatures, but said he was really looking forward to the match.
“It’ll be a big game, I’m hoping for a big crowd,” he said.
Milne played reserves footy with Essendon before joining the Saints’ senior list in 2001.
He’s fifth on the club’s all-time goal kicker tally board with 574 and eighth for games played.
He was named in the All Australian team twice and was inducted to the Saints Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Former teammate Leigh Montagna at the induction said that Milne was the heart and soul of the locker room and lifted the playing group’s spirits with his infectious personality.
Milne will speak at a pre-match luncheon at noon at Woori Yallock Football Ground.
Tickets are $40 including finger food and game entry.
