Dan Roy is returning to Darley after landing the senior coaching role at the Ballarat Football League club.
Roy, who was part of the 2017 premiership team, was announced as coach on Thursday.
He was previously assistant coach to Heath Scotland at the Devils in 2017 and 2018. Scotland stood down at the end of this season, due to getting a job with North Melbourne.
Roy spent last season at Lorne, playing in a grand final.
Darley president Mark Shelly said it was pretty exciting to have Roy back on board at the club.
“We’re super excited,” he said. “It’s probably taken a bit longer than we would have liked.
“We’ve gone through a fairly extensive process to make sure we got the right person and we think we have the right person.”
Shelly said they always had an inclining that Roy wanted to take on a senior coach role when the time was right.
He said with Roy having spent two years at the club, it would make a big difference on him taking on the role.
Shelly said there was plenty of excitement within the playing group once the announcement was made.
“He fits in really well,” Shelly said.
“He’s played alongside a lot of the guys and the senior players were rapt when they were made aware.
“He’s a measured and a guy that leads by example.”
Shelly said at this stage Roy had been just appointed as coach.
As for playing, Shelly said that would be decided down the track.
“It’s certainly a possibility,” he said.
“Speaking to him it’ll depend on his body and his major focus is getting everything right off field.
“If he has the right support network around him, there’s a possibility.”
Shelly said the focus would now turn to recruiting and looking at filling any gaps.
The Devils have already received two blows, with Brian and Nick Graham on the move to play closer to home.
Shelly said Roy would likely already be speaking to people.
“We have found in the past, once you have the senior coach, the dominoes start to fall into place.
“Dan may look to a couple of his contacts from footballers outside.
“He’s a pretty well connected bloke. He’ll sit down with the football manager and work out what type of players we need to fill holes.”
