Hill has spent the past three seasons as an assistant with the TAC Cup side and is looking forward to returning to the W.J. Findlay Oval next season.

He will call the shots with Sam Carpenter after his cousin, Andy, stepped down from the top job.

“I sort of hooked up with the Bushies to dip my coaching toe in the water to see if I liked it,” Hill said.

“It’s progressed from there.

“In the back of my mind coaching Wangaratta Rovers was probably always a bit of a dream I suppose.

“The last three years have been unbelievable at the Murray Bushrangers and I can’t speak highly enough of the place.

“As much as it’s a development place for the players, it’s doubly so for the coaching staff.

“Good footy clubs have good people and it’s just a good footy club.

“I know it’s a unique one in that we bring kids together, but it’s outstanding and has facilitated a fair bit of my learning over the past few years.”

The 306-match Rovers veteran said his cousin would be staying involved in “some capacity” at the club and is excited by the prospect of working closely with Carpenter.

Hill and Carpenter were teammates for two years.

“Andy will be hanging around the place and I’ll definitely be sounding him out for a role,” Hill said..

“We’ll find him something to do that’s for sure.

“I have kept in touch with ‘Carps’ even when he went back to Corowa.

“I’ve had a couple of chats and it’s exciting to hook up with him again.

“He’s a good operator and has a good footy brain.”

Wangaratta Rovers finished eighth this season with six wins and have signalled their intentions to improve by signing Alex Marklew.

The Hawks are also banking on players including Will Nolan, Coen Hennessy, Dylan Stone and Dylan Wilson to continue to improve.

“While a lot of other clubs are probably in the same boat, it’s exciting to see the young locals coming through,” he said.

“That was part of the reason why I was keen to get involved again.

“I think there’s a lot of talent.”