Jindera recruit Ben Dower will step away from coaching and focus on playing when he returns to the Hume League club next year.
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The 29-year-old was a co-coach with Phil Packer at Tallangatta League outfit Mitta United in 2019 and was set to be an assistant to Aaron Lezius this year, until COVID-19 intervened.
"It's just for family reasons, it's too far up to Mitta (almost an hour) and I've just had another child," he said.
"I just want to play, get back to basics and turn up when I've got to turn up (laughs)."
It's just for family reasons, it's too far up to Mitta (almost an hour) and I've just had another child.
- Ben Dower
Dower admits coaching was much harder than he thought.
"Absolutely, I think it's the commitment, some players give 110 percent, while some don't give you 70," he said.
"It was interesting just getting to know how some blokes train and how some don't train (laughs)."
The 196cm Dower played in Albury's 2016 premiership.
"Ben will bring a lot of experience, he's gone through the Ovens and Murray system, he's touched on coaching up at Mitta and we're just looking for his guidance," Jindera president Simon Cossor said.
"He's coming as a tall forward and he could pinch-hit in the ruck if that's what the coaching staff wants."
Dower played with Jindera in 2018 with his wife Rhian's family tremendous stalwarts.
"He's a great family man and Jindera's all about bringing that culture and Ben's got plenty of that," Cossor said.
The Bulldogs will also officially welcome another former player in Tim Darcy, who played in Kiewa Sandy Creek's 2018 premiership win over Thurgoona.
Darcy was going to play for Jindera this year until the season was cancelled due to the coronavirus.
His return will allow best and fairest Mitch Lawrence to play on-ball.
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Jindera will quickly look to regain its league standing after finishing second last with only three wins in 2019.
The Bulldogs contested the three previous grand finals.