Rockbank hopeful former Essendon midfielder Andrew Welsh will pull on the boots in the RDFL this year

ROCKBANK is hopeful a former Bomber will put on the boots for it in the Riddell District Football League this season.

Essendon v Hawthorn. MCG. Luke Hodge spoils ANDREW wELSH

ROCKBANK is hopeful a former Bomber will pull on the boots for it in the Riddell District Football League this season.

Andrew Welsh — who played 162 AFL games for Essendon between 2002 and 2011 — has been secured as the Rams’ ambassador of junior football as the club looks to get a full complement of junior sides back on the park.

The ambassadorial role comes after a company of which Welsh is a director — Welsh Developments — signed on as Rockbank’s major sponsor for the next three seasons.

Rockbank coach Gavin Sporle said while at this stage Welsh’s only role at the club was to be ambassador of junior football, he had his fingers crossed the 31-year-old would agree to pull on the boots for the senior side at some stage.

“I’m hoping we might be able to sneak him in for a game or two,” Sporle said.

“But that’s something that we haven’t even started discussing.”

Rockbank will return to pre-season training on January 28.