Imagine signing up for an Auskick game down at the local park with your son only to have Danny Southern wander out for the opposition side.
Southern played 103 games for the Bulldogs and other than his effort in last year’s Chemist Warehouse EJ Whitten Game, his only other competitive match in 15 years was in an Auskick match alongside his son.
Understandably he expects to be “a little bit rusty”, when the ball in bounced on Friday in the name of Bulldogs legend Ted Whitten.
Known for his aggressive style of play over his seven year AFL career, Southern said he will have his eye on the Victorian skipper Jonathan Brown.
“I think I should go for the top shelf,” he told SEN this week with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
“Jonathan Brown, I think he’s pretty hard and tough, so I might have to nail him pretty early and then go through them one by one from there.”
Southern is one of ten former Bulldogs to pull on the boots in an effort to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer on September 1 at Etihad Stadium.
Since retiring from football Southern has travelled the world with his family, including a ten year stay in Egypt.
He now works as a full-time mentor with the Clontarf Foundation.