The dual All Seasons Bendigo Football League Nalder medallist signed with the reigning Maryborough-Castlemaine District Football League premiers late last week, but admitted yesterday the passion to play again is still not burning inside him.

"I've put in a clearance and whether I get it or not, I'm not sure, and whether I play or not, I'm not sure," Tranter said.

"I'm trying to keep fit and I have had discussions with the coach (Geoff Dixon), but I'm not all that keen.

"I was pretty hard at it for a long time and I have no regrets; I'm enjoying not being sore any more, and work and family commitments come into it."Tranter, 34, said he simply signed the clearance form in case the passion to play football returned at some stage this year.

But he won't do it if it means costing a young player a spot in the team.

"Carisbrook has got some good, young players coming through, and I won't come back if it means one of those players has to miss out," he said.

However, Dixon is "fairly confident" Tranter will line up for Carisbrook at some stage this season.

"He will play - I spoke to him at length on Saturday night and we understand work commitments won't allow him to play every week, but the players want him to play," Dixon said.

"I think he was pretty happy with what he saw on Saturday."Tranter announced his retirement from Maryborough after the Magpies beat Castlemaine by 65 points in round four last year.

He is one of the legends of Maryborough, winning the Nalder Medal for best on ground in the Magpies' 1998 and '99 grand final triumphs.

He also spent 4sfr1/2 years at Collingwood and played eight games for the Pies after being selected with pick 55 in the 1987 VFL draft.

Carisbrook sits undefeated at the top of the MCDFL ladder after four rounds, but has the bye this week.

The Brook thumped Harcourt by 88 points last Saturday, despite having six premiership players from last year missing