A great larrikin of the game, John Barnes, said two football icons were headed our way.
"We're coming up to have a good time with Doug (Hawkins) and Daics (Peter Daicos), who are two of the absolute legends of the game," Barnes said.
"And, I'll be there too, but I was just a tall hack who got by."
The trio is visiting as part of Magpies Mackay's Sportsman's Dinner on July 18.
In a 15-year career, Barnes played 202 VFL/AFL games with Essendon and Geelong. He has many great stories from both on and off the field.
"If you drink beer and hang around footy clubs, you're going to have enough stories and some of them are worth telling, most of them you can't (tell)," he said.
"The nineties - it was a good time for footy, even better time to be alive."
"Life is too serious these days."
Magpies coach Paul Gurry organised the men to visit the region to boost the code's presence.
"Obviously you don't have winter (in Mackay) and when I heard it'd be 23-degrees, I said yes before I knew what I was getting into," 46-year-old Barnes said.
After retiring, Barnes worked as a coach at Collingwood and the Western Bulldogs, but has since taken a reserved approach to the professional game.
"I tried in the system, doing some ruck (coaching), for about five years, but the politics didn't agree with me," he said, without pulling his punches.
"I haven't watched a game of footy on TV for four years.
"I still love watching local footy and I can't wait to get up there, sit back, and watch some local footy over a few beers."
Barnes hasn't lost any of his signature passion though.
"I still play the game in my head or when I'm sitting in the car," he said. "I can't help myself, it's frustrating."
Always one for a wise crack, Barnes said he had slowed down considerably since his playing days.
"My hip's shot, I can only (do certain things) in one position, but I'm holding up all right," he said. "The worst thing is now I only drink light beer."
Barnes sung the praise of his travelling partners, football royalty Peter Daicos and Doug Hawkins.
"Dougy is what you see is what you get," Barnes said. "He's a people person who'll talk to you all day long and has time for any and everyone. He's from the era when footy was footy and men were men."
The event is held at Magpies Sporting Club on Saturday, July 18. Tickets are $85 a person and a table of 10 is $750.
The night includes auctions, presentations and a meal and drinks deal.
To book, and for more information, phone 4965 6100.
Last Modified on 13/07/2015 10:05