Nick Dal Santo trains with MPNFL Division 2 club Tyabb

Could a Mornington Peninsula club be about to land the recruit of the season? Rumours are swirling after a former AFL champion trained on Monday.

Nick Dal Santo during North Melbourne training at Arden St in 2016. Picture: Hamish Blair

His skills were as silky as ever.

Looking fit and keen, former St Kilda and North Melbourne star Nick Dal Santo was a stand-out at MPNFL Division 2 club Tyabb’s training on Monday night.

Invited down for “a run around” by his cousin and Tyabb player Luke Stanton, the 322-game champion looked to enjoy himself.

“He’s a cracking bloke,” Tyabb coach Aaron Pacey said.

“I said to him, ‘we’re doing a couple of drills, do you want to jump in?’ He said, ‘absolutely’.”

Nick Dal Santo was front and centre at Tyabb training on Monday night.

The Yabbies hung on every word as Dal Santo addressed the playing group several times, offering tips and encouragement.

“He had a couple of drills that suited our game plan which we are trying to implement this year and the boys were lapping it up, absolutely lapping it up,” Pacey said.

“To have a 300-game superstar of the sport down at Tyabb running around was brilliant.

“We have a few Saints fans — Saints nuffies — and they were just star struck, they followed him from cone to cone.”

Nick Dal Santo addresses the Tyabb players at training.

So, will Tyabb see more of the great Nicky Dal? Is he a chance to play some games in 2021?

“I suppose you’re always a chance but we’ll just see,” Pacey said.

“I know he’s got some dodgy hips but we will see how we go. We won’t rule it out. It would be nice but he’s also got media commitments.”

Dal Santo, 36, retired from the AFL at the end of season 2016 but he did make three appearances with Central Highlands Football League club Hepburn (alongside Stanton) in 2017.

Tyabb has recruited well as it tries to end a two-decade finals drought in 2021.