Hind joins the Devils

(AAP Image/Daniel Pockett)

Tara Murray

Former Essendon and St Kilda player Nick Hind is returning to the Ballarat Football League, but will be donning the black and white of Darley this time round.

The Devils announced that Hind had signed with the club for the 2025 season.

Hind played 95 AFL games before being delisted by the Bombers at the end of the 2024 season.

He is no stranger to the BFL, having played at East Point under current Darley coach Dan Jordan in 2013.

After starring in the BFL’s Interleague campaign in 2016 he joined the Essendon’s Victorian Football League program also under Jorden to progress through the ranks and be drafted by St Kilda in 2018.

“I’m super excited to be joining DJ and the Devils for 2025,” Hind said in the Devils announcement. “I’ve obviously kept a close eye on them over the past few years with DJ at the helm and watched a few games when I could. I love the environment the club has created and found the boys and the club really welcoming.”

Hind fielded offers from a number of different clubs across the state, but the Devils said he was motivated by relationships, success and familiarity which the club believes it can offer him.

Jordan said he was excited to reunite with the speedster.

“I have obviously been a close friend of Nick’s over the past 10 years and we had spoken about him coming to play when his AFL career ended,” Jordan said.

“I know he is the sort of character and footballer that will greatly add to our program and continue to help develop our considerable young talent by bringing his experience, work ethic and leadership to our club.

“Unless a genuine AFL opportunity is offered which we will of course honour, Nick will be assisting myself with some coaching as well as playing and we look forward to welcoming Nick to the Devils in 2025 and beyond.”