IT WAS Ballarat football's worst kept secret, now it is official - Orren Stephenson is heading back to the North Ballarat Roosters.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The three-time VFL premiership ruckman and former Geelong/Richmond big man will return to Eureka Stadium as a playing assistant coach for 2015.
Stephenson had been the main target of a number of clubs through the Ballarat and Central Highlands football leagues since he was delisted by Richmond after the 2014 season.
However, it was the lure of the second-highest level of competition that proved too great for the 200cm ruckman.
"I have a passion to keep performing at the highest level as I can as a player, however I also want to become a quality coach and I can't think of a better person to mentor me than Fitzy (coach Gerard Fitzgerald)," Stephenson said.
"In many ways I've never really left North Ballarat as I've maintained close ties through Emilie and Sophie playing netball here and Patrick playing junior football and for Whitney and it's really nice to be back."
Stephenson won VFL premierships with the Roosters in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
In 2011 he was drafted to Geelong, where he played eight AFL matches.
He was rookie drafted to Richmond in 2013, where he played a further seven senior games, finishing runner-up in the reserves best and fairest in 2014.
