McKimmie, 37, had shoulder surgery over the off-season and recently announced his retirement plans to Brock-Burrum officials.

The silky-skilled midfielder has spent the past five seasons with the Saints after playing more than 250 games for Lavington.

He coached Brock-Burrum from 2011-13 and delivered a drought-breaking flag to long-suffering Saints supporters in his final year as coach.

Saints president Steve Koschitzke said the announcement wasn’t a total shock.

“It wasn’t a huge surprise because he told the club at the end of last year that he was contemplating retirement,” Koschitzke said.

“He had shoulder surgery over the off-season and after having that decided his body had probably had enough.”

Koschitzke rated McKimmie as the real driving force behind the merged identity capturing its first flag.

Before the merger, Brocklesby won its most recent flag in 1958 with Burrumbuttock last tasting the ultimate success in 1969.

“Darryn will be remembered for a long time as the coach who delivered the club’s first flag in 44 years,” he said.

“He is not only highly regarded around the club but also the community since moving out here.

“His arrival added a lot more professionalism to the club and was exactly what we needed to take that next step and win a flag.

“Even in the grand final he looked done before half-time with a knee injury but came back on to kick a couple of crucial goals playing deep in attack.

“It just showed how smart a player he was and he certainly inspired a lot of people that day.”

While McKimmie boasts an impressive highlights reel, the 2001 and 2005 Lavington premiership player will best be remembered for kicking the winning goal against Myrtleford after the siren in the Panthers’ most recent flag.