Old Launcestonians have pulled off one of the biggest signings in Tasmanian football, securing the signature of former Richmond and Port Adelaide star Jay Schulz.
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The 190-game, 330-goal forward has signed with the Blues for a minimum of five home games at Invermay Park, with the club eager to extend the agreement throughout the season.
Saying "if I can play more, I'll play more", the 35-year-old works for club sponsor Nigel Baker and The Baker Group and was convinced to put on the boots for OLs.
"I'm massive on community footy and I grew up in a small town of 1000 people, so I know what community footy and amateur footy does for people around towns," Schulz said.
"I wanted to get involved some way, I wasn't really sure how that was going to pan out and it's ended up panning out here with OLs.
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"There'd been a lot of footy clubs that have had conversations with me, obviously the link here with work [got me across the line] and the president [Tom Harrison] is an old mate of mine who I spent some time with in Melbourne as well."
Upon relocating to Tasmania, his wife's home state, Schulz has also taken on the head of coaching and development at North Launceston, insisting his days of State League football were over.
"It'll probably take me a month or so to get over each game here," he laughed.
"I look after all their junior teams and coaches and mentor them, which is good for me and what I enjoy doing and I obviously help the senior coach [Brad Cox-Goodyer] as well."
"This is a new role for me, they've got 16 or 17 teams and a lot of them are just volunteers and coaching for the first time, so for me to mentor them and teach them about the game ... is what I love doing."
President Harrison described Schulz's recruitment as "surreal" ahead of the club's first game on April 10.
"It's fantastic that we've got a group and a community involved around the football club that have been able to put something together compelling enough that he feels it's a good enough club for him and his family to spend some time in," he said.
"We've built a great culture and I'm glad that he's able to see that that's going to be able to play a positive part in his life by coming down."