YARRAWONGA champion Craig Ednie will coach Rennie next season.
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The five-time Pigeons best-and-fairest winner and three-time premiership star has signed a two-year deal to coach the Picola league side.
The decision means the 2006 Morris medallist may have played his final match in the Ovens and Murray.
Ednie, who played his 200th match for the Pigeons last season, is battling a serious calf injury and is only a slim chance to return to the field this season.
Ednie said he was sad to be leaving the J.C. Lowe Oval and would do everything in his power to play another match for the Pigeons.
“Yarra has pretty much been my whole life,” the 34-year-old said.
“When I was born, dad was playing there and I sort of don’t know any different.
“I will be sad to leave, especially all the people who come and support us and the volunteers you see every weekend.
“It’d be nice to go out on my terms, I’m hoping this injury doesn’t stop me playing another game.
“I’ll do everything I can to get back but it will depend how deep the boys can go in the finals.
“I’ll need everything to go right.”
Co-coach Chris Kennedy said Ednie would depart Yarrawonga as one of the Pigeons’ greatest ever players.
“He coincides with Yarrawonga’s greatest era and he’s been a key to holding it all together,” he said.
“He’s held it together for a decade and he’s probably given everything he could.
“There wouldn’t be many other players that have given as much to their footy club.
“It will be a good move for him and a great move by the Rennie footy club.”
It will be Ednie’s first coaching appointment since he took charge of the Pigeons from 2008-10.
Rennie president Andrew Starr was thrilled to secure Ednie’s signature as the club sought to turn around its fortunes.
The Hoppers won a premiership under another former Pigeon Leigh Ramsdale in 2011 but have been in the doldrums in recent seasons and have currently gone 38 matches without a victory.
“He’s a great pick-up for us, especially where we have been, struggling a bit on the field,” he said.
“Craig has got the drawing power to get us back where we want to be and he’s a great guy as well.”
Ednie said he was looking forward to the challenge of lifting the Hoppers up the table and didn’t rule out luring his old mate Brendan Fevola for a guest appearance.
“He owes me a few favours but he might cost too much,” he said.
“I might just get him to sell a few cans in the bar.
“I’d have to send him back to I'm a Celebrity....Get Me Out of Here 2 to lose some weight before he could play for us.”