Michael Hurley set to make his Macleod return in Good Friday blockbuster

Macleod favourite son Michael Hurley will make his playing return in a Good Friday blockbuster as the Kangas aim high in 2023.

Good Friday will see the return of Macleod prodigal son, Michael Hurley.

Barring disaster, Hurley is set to line-up for his first game since 2006 when the Kangas host Greensborough at DeWinton Park.

The former Essendon star played 194 games after being drafted with pick No.5 in 2008 and was named All-Australian in 2015 and 2017.

His return, combined with the debut of Greensborough’s ex-AFL recruit Jack Newnes, should see a healthy crowd.

Macleod hopes its favourite son will feature regularly this NFNL Division 1 season as he juggles coaching commitments at Essendon and can bag a few goals from full forward.

Michael Hurley celebrates a goal in his Essendon farewell. Picture: Michael Klein

“We had a running joke, I said ‘it will be good to have you down back, Hurls’ and he just laughed and said ‘I wouldn’t have thought so’,” Macleod coach Craig Hayes revealed.

“He’s very keen to do well … he’s play full forward, I don’t think that’s any secret.

“He’ll still be our tallest forward by some margin and will help with how we structure up in front of the footy.”

Hurley headlines a strong crop of recruits.

Reigning Division 2 league best-and-fairest and league great Darcy Barden has made the move from Lower Plenty, along with brother Billy.

Shane Doherty (Parkside), Zach Hudson (St Marys), Michael Kiraly (Castlemaine), Jack Lipscombe (Old Scotch), Ethan Lowe (Preston Bullants) and Essendon VFL-listed Solomon McKay (Tyntynder, Central Murray) are other new arrivals.

Captain Justin White looms as a mid-season addition as he continues to made good progress after a knee reconstruction last season.

Securing Barden was one of the biggest off-season moves in the Northern league and Hayes is excited to see his new man in action.

Darcy Barden in action for Lower Plenty. Picture: George Sal

“He’s had two really good practice games and I’m looking forward to seeing what Darce can bring to the table, we’re all buoyed by the fact he’s with us,” Hayes said.

“Our backline looks really strong with him, Ned (McKeown), Brad Leggett, Liam Wanders and young Solly McKay, who’s at Essendon VFL.

“He sets a very high standard, not only for himself but those around him, and he drives that and the group has bought into it.”

Jack Bianchin (St Mary’s), Patrick Flynn (Lower Plenty), Chris Long (West Footscray), Jose Miliado (Swan Hill, Central Murray), Hamish Paynter (Drysdale, Barwon), Trent Warren (Greenvale) are the major departures.

After finishing seventh last season, just six points out of fifth, Hayes has set high goals for his team.

In his second season behind the wheel he is hoping to guide the Kangas back into finals.

“You feel a little more assured because you’ve seen the guys play and train for 12 months,” he said.

“Our aim will definitely be to play finals, beyond that we’ll see where we go.

DIV 2: NEW ERA FOR PROMOTED SOUTH MORANG

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

DIV 3: WHY KINGLAKE WAS READY FOR NORTHERN RETURN

“We think we’ve recruited really well, we’ve had a couple of losses, and we’ve had a really good pre-season.

“Our head of conditioning has us a long way ahead of were we were this time last year and at the moment the focus is squarely on Greensborough.”

The Kangas have the opportunity to lay down an early marker in that pursuit.

They face top-five rivals Greensborough and West Preston-Lakeside in the opening fortnight before promotion-winner Banyule and then North Heidelberg.