mmg.com.au

A former AFL rivalry is set to reignite in the Goulburn Valley.

Shepparton is in talks with former under-18 player and 240-game AFL premiership ruckman Steven King to compete for the football club this season.

King’s potential signing could pave the way for a rematch with ex-Geelong teammate and new Mooroopna big man Mark Blake, the man he replaced in the Cats’ 2007 AFL grand final win.

Blake then played in Geelong’s 2009 flag, defeating King and his new side St Kilda.

Bears coach Matt Byers, who grew up playing football with 33-year-old King, was hopeful of adding the experienced ruckman to his list.

‘‘We’re trying to go down every avenue we can and we have mentioned it to him,’’ Byers said.

‘‘We hope to find out in the next week or so, but a lot depends on his assistant coaching commitments at the Western Bulldogs.’’

Byers said the decision to approach King, an All-Australian in 2000, came about because of a conversation with the latter’s father, Ashley, who still lives in Shepparton.

‘‘I was talking to his father, Ashley, and he mentioned when Steve was at home it might be worth contacting him and seeing if he was interested,’’ he said.

‘‘Steve and (his wife) Danielle have two children and it’s nice to be able to bring them back to see Nan and Pa.’’

Byers said young beanpole Ash Holland would be another who would benefit greatly from King’s potential presence.

‘‘It’d be fantastic. Ash Holland could possibly be the best ruckman in the GVL in the next couple of years,’’ he said.

‘‘To have a bloke like Steven King help him out — even if he’s only around a little bit — all that stuff does help.’’

Shepparton has already added former Moama coach Luke Eldridge and ex-VFL players Levi Power and Braden Pullen to a side that finished ninth with a 6-12 win-loss record last season.

Byers said his youthful Bears would be ‘‘pretty similar to what we were’’ last year.

‘‘It’s been pretty hard, recruiting-wise, especially with a lot of money being offered to play in the lesser-known competitions,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s been pretty tough work, but we’re excited where we’re heading and the three guys we have recruited (Eldridge, Power and Pullen) have been first class.

‘‘We’ll have some new game plans and styles and if we implement them really well then, at times during the year, we’ll be tough to beat.’’

Byers said the season had ‘‘come around quite quickly’’ and predicted Tatura, Rochester and two-time reigning premier Shepparton United would be the sides to beat in what loomed as an open competition.