Burke is returning to play with the Demons after two seasons as North Ballarat City coach in the Ballarat league.

The 30-year-old chose not to seek another season at the helm of North after leading it into another finals series this year.

Burke grew up playing with Horsham, and as a premiership coach and six-time premiership player, is an all-time great of the club.

He said his plumbing business and lifestyle were behind the move.

Burke said he would have happily stayed on with North Ballarat City as a player if circumstances had allowed, but most of his work was now in the Horsham region.

“It was always going to be either City or Horsham,” he said.

Burke said he still had quite a few mates playing with the Demons and was looking forward to playing without the extra load of coaching.

The hard-nosed ruckman/forward said he would not rule out coaching again in the future.

Burke last played with Horsham in the second half of 2015 after quitting Bannockburn mid-season.

He lead North City to 11 wins and fifth place in 2016 and six wins and sixth position this year after a shocking start to the campaign in which it had just one win in the opening eight games.

The highly-respected Shane Skontra has taken over as North Ballarat City’s senior coach for season 2018.

SUNBURY premiership player Jack Sheahan will be back with the Lions in the BFL.

A former Calder Cannon (TAC Cup) and Bendigo Gold (VFL) player, Sheahan was one of just a handful of 2012 Sunbury premiership players to line up with the club in last year’s grand final.

Mitch Conn is another returning to the Lions after two seasons with Coburg in the VFL.

Conn joined Coburg last year after playing with Calder Cannons as a wingman/defender.

He made his VFL debut late last season after an impressive run of form in the AFL development league, which has been disbanded.

Conn finished up playing five games at VFL level.