Former AFL player David Rodan cleared to join Northern Football League club West Preston-Lakeside

West Preston-Lakeside has confirmed the capture of AFL journeyman David Rodan, but says he is unlikely to play this NFL season.

Rodan has a wretched run with injury in his 185-game AFL career, which included a stint at Port Adelaide. Picture: News Limited.

WEST Preston-Lakeside coach Frank Raso admits AFL journeyman David Rodan is unlikely to play for the Northern Football League club this season despite a recent clearance to the Roosters.

Rodan’s clearance to the Roosters was approved on June 30, the day before he took part in the E.J Whitten Legends Game.

The former Melbourne, Richmond and Port Adelaide speedster has been recovering from a knee injury which ended his AFL career last year.

Raso said Rodan was likely to focus on being fully fit for next season rather than rush his return to play a part in the club’s 2014 campaign.

“It’s really unlikely he’ll play (this year),” Raso said.

“He’ll most likely play with us next year, but you never know, he might pop up later in the year.”

Rodan has been involved with West Preston in an off-field role this year, helping mentor the club’s younger players.

He is also AFL Victoria’s multicultural projects officer.

“We do a mentoring program and he’s been part of that,” Raso said.

“He’s come down and done some clinics with the kids.”

Rodan is the second former Demon to join West Preston this year after it secured Aaron Davey.

Davey has played one game for the Roosters and appears unlikely to qualify for finals due to his commitments with Victorian Football League team Richmond.

“It’s a tough one ... he’s a Richmond player number one,” Raso said.

“We don’t go up to Richmond and say ‘can he not play for Richmond and play for us’, it’s not about that.”

Raso said Rodan was also “a long shot” to be eligible for finals.

Meanwhile, Lower Plenty has confirmed Campbell Brown will return to the club for matches against Macleod and West Preston.

Brown has played one game for the Bears this year, but rumours of a return were sparked when a clearance request was approved on June 24.

West Preston meets Whittlesea this weekend.