Challis is free to line up for the Devils in the 2015 Ballarat Football League season after being released from his contract with East Geelong following lengthy negotiations between the two clubs dating back to last year.

Darley coach Jarrod Edwards expects the Neville Whitley Medallist to slot straight into the side, but says it could take several weeks for him to hit top form.

"From what I've seen on the track he looks pretty good, but BFL is a different style and standard to what he'll be used to," Edwards said.

"He's pretty quick, he's definitely going to add a bit of outside pace.

"Our better midfielders are pretty high quality and we've got three or four top quality players, but it drops away a little bit after that and we're trying to add depth.

Challis has twice finished runner-up in the GDFL medal count before storming home to win the 2014 edition by seven votes.

Edwards said he would be allowed to use his pace and run to capitalise on the Devils' strength at stoppages.

"In the GDFL he would have to do a lot of inside and outside work, whereas here he'll play mostly on the outside," he said.

"Winning the inside ball is our strength but what we lack is a lot of pace and he'll add to that."

In a further boost to its playing stocks, Darley has also secured versatile Ballan forward Ryan Closter.

Edwards said Closter will offer the Devils a different avenue to goal, and is capable of playing in a range of roles across the ground.

"He could play deep forward, centre-half-forward or in the backline," he said.

"He's played a fair bit of footy in the forward line and we were probably a bit predictable (down forward) last year."

Edwards is hopeful the pair, alongside Essendon District Football League star recruit Nathan Lyons, are capable of helping the club improve on its fourth placing in 2014.