Bendigo Advertiser |KYNETON'S bid to end its 12-year Bendigo Football League finals drought has been given a timely boost, with former Port Adelaide Magpies' captain James Meiklejohn cleared to the Tigers.
Meiklejohn spent nine years at Port Adelaide, including the last four as captain, and was regarded as one of the SANFL's premier ruckmen before finishing at the Magpies in 2013.
The 30-year-old also played six AFL games with the Sydney Swans in 2003-04 after coming off the club's rookie list.
Meiklejohn has this week been cleared to the Tigers, but coach Mark Adamson says it's unlikely he will take to the field this Saturday against Eaglehawk at the Kyneton Showgrounds.
"There's still a few negotiations around his work and when he'll be available to play, but it's highly unlikely he'll play for us this week," Adamson said on Thursday.
"He's six-foot-seven and we believe he will be a real handful in the Bendigo league.
"He brings a lot to the club... he has been a class player in the SANFL for a long time.
"He's a true ruckman, can take a good grab, is aggressive and brings leadership, which is something we lack on the ground.
"Even only going at 60 or 70 per cent early on without much footy under his belt of late, our blokes will walk 20 per cent taller having him out there... I've got no doubt about that.
"He's an intimidating presence, who has played a high level of footy and captained a SANFL powerhouse club as a ruckman.
"Could I have asked for anything else? Probably not, he's exactly the type of player we're after."
Kyneton begins the second half of the BFL season in fifth position with a 4-5 record.
