A desire to one day be a senior head coach has been instrumental in getting South Barwon premiership player Dan Roy to Darley in the Ballarat Football League.
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He has signed on as an assistant coach to Heath Scotland.
Roy said he had been looking to pursue an assistant coaching role when the approach came from Darley.
“It’s all come together at the right time.
He said he would like to one day coach and the Darley appointment was the ideal way to learn.
Roy, 28, said he was impressed by the enthusiasm and drive of Scotland.
“I’m keen to get going.”
Roy is coming off a low-key season with Lorne in the Colac District league, which featured an extended mid-year overseas trip for him and his wife.
He said he had initially planned to take the year off, but chose to play to help out a mate.
He played the first 10 games and then arrived back with just a few days to spare to play in a final.
Roy said the shorter season had freshened him up physically and mentally football-wise and he could not wait to get started again.
The midfielder/onballer is originally from Mansfield in the Goulburn Valley league, where he was an inter-league representative.
I was lucky. I guess you’d say I came out of it with the best case scenario."
- Darley recruit Dan Roy
He spent a few seasons with Aspley in Queensland, returning to Mansfield in 2012.
It was in that season he broke his neck in a football incident.
“I was lucky. I guess you’d say I came out of it with the best case scenario.”
Roy said the first six months were “ordinary”, but he had been fortunate not to suffer any serious long-term effects.
He bounced quickly and in 2013 enjoyed the best season of his football career with South Barwon in the Geelong league – being a premiership player and best and fairest.
He then stepped up to captain the Swans for the next years.
Darley linked up with Roy through a friend and Devils player Daniel Robson.
Scotland said Roy was going to Darley at an ideal time in his career – arriving with a strong football pedigree.
“We’re super excited to get him.”
Scotland said not only would Roy offer much as a player in adding to an already strong midfield, his experience and leadership qualities would also be invaluable.
Roy joins brothers Chris and Brian Graham from Wyndhamvale in the Western Region league as major signings for Scotland and Darley as it strives to rediscover its premiership form of 2015.
