Five times the Pigeons' best and fairest between 2004 and 2015, Ednie could also have played for the O and M outfit on a part-time basis in 2020.

But instead he signed for a fourth year in charge of Rennie, who won back-to-back premierships in his first two seasons as playing coach.

"The footy club approached me this year to see where I was at and if I wanted to possibly coach," Ednie said.

"There was another idea thrown up to come back and play six or eight games and help the juniors out, like Brad Murray had done (at Myrtleford this year), but with my family situation and my other mates being out at Rennie with their kids and families, the timing wasn't quite right.

"I'll end up back at Yarra one day, though, that's for sure."

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The 2006 Morris Medallist admitted he was tempted when the Pigeons first approached him.

"At the start, I probably thought it was a good idea but when I spoke to my partner, Jordan, reality set in and I thought 'why go back to try to do something I don't have to?' Ednie said.

"Maybe I got my ambitions mixed up with my abilities a little bit.

"You think you can go back and do what you used to do, but the reality is the young kids can do it better now.

"For once, I thought with my head instead of heart and realised maybe I wouldn't be able to do it.

"No doubt, if I put my mind to it, I probably could, but I just don't think it's the best thing for the club and it probably wouldn't have been the best thing for my body either.

"I decided to stay at Rennie and have one more kick and then, in years to come, I can help out at Yarra."

Ednie also confirmed Matt Pendergast had agreed to rejoin Rennie for a second spell having passed 300 games at Lavington during their premiership campaign.