The Bulldogs yesterday confirmed that Koutoufides would line up for the club against reigning premier Lockington-Bamawm United at Atkins Street in round three on Saturday, April 21.

As well as playing for the Bulldogs, Koutoufides will also be part of a sportsman’s night and auction with four-time Carlton premiership player Wayne Johnston after the game.

“It’s a fantastic coup for the club,” North Bendigo president Jamie Campbell said yesterday.

“Hopefully, it can help us to make a few dollars, but it’s great for the league to have that sort of a player, even if it is just for a one-off.

“We think it will be great for football in the area.”

Koutoufides was one of the AFL’s elite players during his career at Carlton that spanned 278 games from 1992 to 2007.

Now aged 39, Koutoufides played in Carlton’s 1995 premiership team; represented Victoria in 1999; won best and fairests in 2001 and 2005; captained Carlton from 2004 to 2006; and in 2000 won the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players Association’s most valuable player.

He is a member of both the Greek and Italian team of the century.

“With Koutoufides, he’s a champion person and a champion footballer, so it doesn’t get much better than him,” Campbell said.

Koutoufides is a former Carlton team-mate of North Bendigo coach Damien Lock, who played 18 games for the Blues in 1998 and ’99.

“It’s going to be a huge day and it’s great to have him on board. I’m sure he’ll drag a few people through the gate,” said Lock, who will coach the Bulldogs for a second season.

“He’s an exciting player and also a great guy, so we’re really looking forward to having him for the day.

“We’ll probably put him in the middle and maybe a bit up forward, depending on how much work he wants to do, but I’d say he’d still be in good shape.”

Koutoufides is the second former AFL player to have committed to playing a one-off game in the region this year.

Brownlow medallist and triple premiership player Jason Akermanis will play for Castlemaine against Kangaroo Flat at Countrycars.com.au Oval on May 5.