McConnell grew up in Ballan, playing all his juniors with the Central Highlands Football League club and making his senior debut with the Blues as a 15-year-old.

He had planned to play with Ballan next season, but agreed to also take on the coaching role after the surprise departure of Mark Williams.

The 34-year-old goes into the job with a highly impressive coaching and playing record.

McConnell, who played with Glenelg in the SANFL after leaving the Roosters a decade ago, is fresh from taking North Gambier to three Western Border Football League premierships in six years as coach.

He guided North Gambier to the 2012, 2013 and 2014 flags - breaking a 20-year drought. 

The former WBFL best and fairest, and multiple leading goalkicker stepped down as coach after losing this year's grand final in overtime.

McConnell told The Courier he had always had a desire to one day return to Ballan, where he grew up watching uncles and cousins play, as well as playing himself.

He said he almost played with Ballan this year, when his partner Noni McClure joined the Blues as senior netball coach.

However, while he thought about it, the lure of trying to take North Gambier to a fourth consecutive flag was too much to resist. 

"Everything's fallen into place."

McConnell has secured a transfer in his employment, and will live and work in Bacchus Marsh.

Despite his success as a coach, McConnell knows the challenge of taking to Ballan to the next step was not going to be easy.

He said the Blues had done a great job to climb into the top eight this year and play finals, but the next step was potentially much harder.

"It's one thing to get into the finals, it's another to climb into the top bracket (of premiership contenders).

McConnell is confident Ballan can build on what it had achieved by way of development of players and recruiting.

New Ballan president Stig Nielson said McConnell had all the attributes the club needed in a coach.

He said significantly McConnell was a genuine clubman, with the whole club at heart -  senhior and junior football and netball.

"He'll be fantastic for the club."

Nielson is confident McConnell will be a long-term coach given his passion and ties for the area.

McConnell joined the Roosters from Anglesea in 2002 - arriving at the club unheralded with desire to prove himself in VFL.

He went on to play 34 senior games in three seasons, winning the Allen Stott Memorial Medal as best and fairest in 2005.

He was also named in the VFL team of the year.

McConnell then moved to Glenelg in the SANFL, where he made more than 60 senior appearances and won the 2007 club goalkicking and place in the Tigers' team of the decade.

He said it was while at Glenelg that he developing into a forward.

"There were plebnty opf half backs there, so I went forward."

McConnell continued his football journey with the coaching appointment at North Gambier, when he went on became a WBFL great as the competition's best and fairest, leading goalkicker, century goalkicker and premiership coach.

Ballan finished eighth this year - four win inside the top eight. This was one place higher than 2014.

The Blues had two wins in the finals before losing to Gordon in a preliminary final.

FACT FILE

CHFL - BALLAN

- played juniors

- made senior debut as 15yo

 VFL – NORTH BALLARAT

-  recruited from Anglesea

- 2002-05 – 34 senior games

- 2005 Roosters best and fairest

SANFL – GLENELG

- 2006-09 – 60-plus senior games

- 2007 leading goalkicker at Glenelg

- team of the decade

WBFL – NORTH GAMBIER

- 2010-15 – 116 games

- 2010-15 senior coach

- 2012-13-14 WBFL premierships

- 2010 WBFL best and fairest

- 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015  WBFL leading goalkicker

- 100 goals twice