Corey Mattner: Kangaroos midfielder a standout | AFL North West

The South Australian has been a potent addition to the side after arriving in the region last month.

The fencer will not be here long. But it will be long enough, if the Roos are good enough, to win the flag.

Read also:

If that happens, it would be the 28-year-old's first top-grade title.

He hails from tiny Langhorn Creek, located 65km from Adelaide, and played several seasons of top grade for the Langhorn Creek Hawks in the Great Southern Football League.

The nature of his work means he is forever travelling. And the nature of his relationship with footy means he has continuously played since he was a young boy.

Ahead of the first-placed Roos' round 11 clash against fourth-placed Inverell at No 1 Oval on Saturday, Mattner said it was the Tamworth Jockey Club's new general manager, Michael Buckley, who lured him to the club.

He had played basketball with Buckley in South Australia.

"Loving it," Mattner said of playing for Tamworth.

"The Roos boys and girls are all bloody good. Yeah, really enjoying it so far. Everyone's so nice and welcoming.

"So it's been an easy transition, I could say."

Mattner is based in Uralla, where his company PLC Fencing is working at the New England Solar Farm.

He has been playing in the midfield, as well as half-back and half-forward.

"I'm pretty happy with how I've been going," he said. "I've been getting a couple of kicks, which is always good."

Mattner said "100 per cent" when asked if the Kangaroos could win the competition this year after years of struggle.

"Hopefully we can get a full team together and knock off the Swans."

Ben Mitchell, the Kangaroos' co-coach, said Mattner "brings a lot of experience to our back half and midfield".

The Croweater, Mitchell continued, "seems like he has more time than others" due to his "composure around the footy".

"He has fitted in really well with the boys," the player-coach added.

"[It] almost feels like he has been around all year."

Elsewhere on Saturday, Moree-Narrabri host the Swans while Gunnedah welcomes New England.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: