Carlton 200-game player Heath Scotland is returning "home" to coach Darley in the Ballarat Football League next year.
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The Devils have secured the former Darley junior on a one-year deal.
Scotland, 36, has initially been appointed non-playing coach, but Darley has not completely ruled out that the possibility that he might play. at some stage.
New Darley football manager Craig Baker said Scotland's first priority was to get all his coaching structures, including assistant coaches, in place before giving any thought of an on-field role.
Scotland returns to Darley Park after two years with Doncaster in the Eastern Football League, having joined the Sharks after retiring from Carlton in 2014.
He helped Doncaster, where he had a support coaching role, get promoted from division two last year and reach the division one finals this season.
Baker said Darley had reached an agreement with Scotland a few weeks ago, but waited until after his commitments with Doncaster had concluded before making an announcement. The Sharks lost an elimination final on Sunday.
Scotland fills the vacancy left by Jarrod Edwards, who coached the Devils for three years - taking them to their first BFL premiership in 2015.
Baker said an informal off-the-cuff comment had led to Scotland's return to Darley.
He said Scotland had been leading a Darley junior training season - something he had done regularly for sometime - about six weeks ago when someone asked whether he might be interested in coaching at his former club.
Baker said Scotland had long hoped to one day to return to the Devils.
"Everything just fell into place."
He said Scotland, who lived in Keilor, retained family ties in the district, with his wife Alisha's parents living in Bacchus Marsh.
Scotland played juniors with Darley when the club was in the Riddell District league and was drafted from Western Jets by Collingwood in 1988.
He played 53 games with the Magpies before being traded to Carlton in 2004 and playing 215 games in 11 seasons with the Blues.
Scotland won Carlton's 2012 best and fairest.
Baker said he was confident Scotland's arrival woiuld generate a new enthusiasm right across the club - on field and off.
He said it had been a tough year for the club, having to deal with injuries to key players such as Shane Page, Harley and Matt Inglis, Ryan Closter and Rhys Ellis, all who were instrumental in the 2015 premiership campaign.
STEVE Kennedy is Darley's senior and fairest award winner.
Anthony Chiu was runner-up in the count.