Ash Carli, formerly Coulthard, will have an appeal into his de-registration heard by an AFL Victoria Country independent appeals tribunal next Thursday.

If successful, the former Buninyong player, who was rubbed out for an accumulation of 16 weeks suspension, is hoping to take on an assistant coaching role and possibly make his return to the field for Central Highlands Football League battlers Smythesdale.

It is believed former Bombers president Wayne Morgan and current Bulldogs senior coach Stephen Frys will support the 31-year-old in his appeal.

Carli's last on-field appearance was while playing for Buninyong in 2010, when he was suspended for biting Newlyn’s Peter Stephens.

Carli originally avoided de-registration due to an oversight in the administration of tribunal records, meaning he was not given the required notice that he was nearing the 16-week threshold. But after his suspension record was confirmed when missing details from the now-defunct Western Plains Football League surfaced, he was put on notice and handed the life ban following the incident against the Cats.

Thursday night will be Carli's first appeal into his de-registration, which prevents him from playing or holding an official football role.

A de-registered player who is successful in gaining an exemption to play and re-offends will automatically be de-registered, with no further right to appeal. A registration must still be accepted by a league in order for a player to return to the field.

CHFL administrator Diane Ryan confirmed that the league's board of management "wouldn't oppose a re-registration" for Carli.

Carli has played junior and senior football with Smythesdale – when known as Illabarook – and it is believed part of his motivation for a return to playing is to help the club in what is a difficult time in its history.