Brothers Kal and Will Young will continue their football careers where they started – with North Ballarat City in the Ballarat Football League.
City president Stephen Darbin confirmed the Youngs as the first key signings for next season.
They move to Eureka Stadium after holding down coaching roles at Newlyn in the Central Highlands league.
Darbin said it was great to have the two former North Ballarat juniors back at the club.
He said there was focus on attracting former North Ballarat people back to the fold and getting the Youngs on board fitted the bill.
Kal, 31, played under-age with North Ballarat Junior Football Club when it had no senior pathway – forcing him to pursue his senior career elsewhere.
He returned to play with City in the Ballarat league in 2012 after a coaching stints at Sebastopol and Trentham, and before joining Newlyn as a player in 2013.
The elder of the brothers took on the Cats’ head coaching role in 2014, luring Will as his assistant.
The 26-year-old Will graduated from North Ballarat juniors to North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup, from where he was drafted by the Adelaide Crows in 2008 – playing two AFL games in 2010.
He had his last season with the Crows as a rookie in 2012.
Will Young has been one of the CHFL’s most potent key forwards – he kicked 60 goals this year – and gives North Ballarat City needed big man power in attack alongside coach Jordyn Burke and the mercurial Derick Micallef.
Darbin said the Youngs had each expressed a desire to finish their playing careers where they started.
He said while no formal leadership roles had been yet pinpointed for the Youngs, they would provide on-field leadership and most likely fill designated positions in the new season.
MEANWHILE, Melton South is looking for a new senior coach after the departure of Mark Pedersen.
He led the Panthers for two years, winning two games for 10th last year and a winless campaign this season for the wooden spoon.
Melton South football manager David Hibbert said Pederson stood aside after informing the club he did not believe he could take it up the ladder.
Melton South joins Ballarat, Redan and East Point in the market for senior coaches. Darley has secured former Collingwood and Carlton player Heath Scotland to replace premiership coach Jarrod Edwards. Sebastopol announced the reappointment of Shane Snibson before the end of the home and away season.
