CARLTON'S forward coach Brad Green admits he expects plenty of ribbing from his charges if he fails to fire in an emotional return to his father Rod's club Hillwood on Saturday.
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In contrast to the glut of former AFL stars cashing in with lucrative cameo performances for Tasmanian clubs, the former Melbourne captain said he is proud to repay the side where he spent much of his childhood watching his father play.
With Carlton scheduled to play St Kilda on Monday, the NTFA division 1 fixture fits in tidily with Green's commitments as an assistant to Mick Malthouse and will even be against his home-town club George Town.
``I wanted to give something back to the club where my father played and is now president,'' Green told ?The Examiner ?yesterday.
``It will be a proud moment and a bit of an honour to play for the same club as Dad.
``I don't know how fit I am, how I'll go or how sore I'll be the next day, but Mick's been asking when my next game would be.
``I'm expecting the boys to get into me if I don't do well. I'm sure they'll wonder what I've been teaching them.''
Saturday's match will be Green's third appearance in his home state since his top-flight retirement in 2012 after playing with mates for University in Hobart and Old Launcestonians in NTFA division 2 six weeks ago.
Rod Green, who is president at the club where he finished playing, and Sharks coach Max Pearce were delighted to welcome the Launceston-born 33-year-old, who kicked 350 goals in 254 games during 12 years with the Demons.
``I will be very proud to see him run out for the club,'' said Rod, who also played with North Launceston and George Town.
``I've been president at Hillwood for about 10 years but held off asking because I did not want to put any pressure on him. But after he played for OLs earlier this year he said he felt a bit guilty and wanted to play for us.''
``When we saw that Carlton had a Monday night game I said `why not come down and play for us?' and he had no hesitation.
``He does not ask for any money to play, he just wants to hand something back to football in Tasmania and sees this as the best way seeing as he is still reasonably fit.
``This is the club he was associated with at grass roots level before he was drafted. He grew up at Hillwood Footy Club but in those days was more heavily involved in cricket and soccer.
``I've seen him play a lot for Melbourne. We'd travel to Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney to watch him and I've seen both his games in Tasmania but it will be very different watching him on Saturday.''
Pearce admitted the former Demons best and fairest was a handy `in'.
``When you've got as many injuries as we've got, it's a huge bonus,'' he said.
``He's taken training a couple of times and to have him playing with our young fellers is enormous.
``I've known Brad since he was about five years old, he's here for all the right reasons and we're all looking forward to it.
``I said I'd like him to play centre-half forward because he's Carlton's forward coach so that'll be ideal.''
The irony of playing against his home-town club at Jetty Road was not lost on Green, who will be back in Melbourne for Blues training on Sunday morning.
``I'm not sure who's playing for them now but I'm sure I will see a few familiar faces throughout the day,'' he added.