Portarlington Football Netball Club made an estimated $30,000 from Saturday’s one-off appearance by former Melbourne captain and 302-gamer Nathan Jones.
Club president Steve Cogger said between 2500 and 3000 spectators flocked to Portarlington Recreation Reserve to see Jones run onto the field against Ocean Grove in the Bellarine Football League on July 8.
The event was part of the Carlton Draft, where eight ex-AFL stars were drafted out to struggling Victorian country clubs for a cameo appearance.
Mr Cogger said the day was a huge success.
“It was a happy crowd,” he said.
“They wanted to be there, they were having a ball. If we had an aim, we achieved it.
“We promoted ourselves nicely to the AFL and Foxtel and everyone else.
“People were saying what a great day it was around town.”
Jones booted the first goal of the game much to the delight of even the Ocean Grove supporters and finished with two for the day. Ocean Grove spoiled the party somewhat with a 74-point win (see page 27 for the full story).
“You couldn’t have scripted it any better,” Mr Cogger said.
“You’d think you were at the MCG, it was that loud.
“Credit to Ocean Grove footy club – they got right behind it too. They had a big crowd of their own.”
Mr Cogger said Jones fully embraced the occasion.
“I’d never met him before, but heard him speak at a dinner I went to and I’m a Melbourne supporter,” he said.
“He was so good. The Ocean Grove boys asked if he could come into their rooms and speak before the game and he did.
“The Ocean Grove boys came into our changerooms after the game and had a few beers with our players. You don’t see that very often nowadays.
“He (Jones) left at about 9pm and signed every jumper and was just great with the kids.”
Mr Cogger said the money from the day would go towards strengthening the club’s already impressive junior program.
Senior coach Peter O’Connor is standing down after three years in the job and the club is on the lookout for a replacement.
“We just have to make some mileage and improve our onfield performance,” Mr Cogger said.
“I’ve already had phone calls from people wanting to help us.
“We’ve demonstrated we’ve got the club, but we just need to see results now.”
