Corowa-Rutherglen recruit Kyle Docherty has made both the Ballarat and Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League Team of the Year in the past five seasons.
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Docherty was selected in defence in the MPN oufit in 2016 while at Mt Eliza and was then named at centre half-forward the following year at Darley.
The Ballarat Football League outfit finished fifth after the regular season, but stunned the competition in sweeping to the title.
He returned to home club Mt Eliza for 2018-19 and was set to have this year off.
"I wasn't officially retired, I just sort of said, 'I think I'm done here', I just thought I'd go into the next part of my life and I was going to have the year off and then coronavirus hit and all the leagues got cancelled," he said.
"If I was staying in Melbourne, I probably wouldn't play to be honest, I've just enjoyed the year off."
The 33-year-old's partner is Renee Lavis, with the couple set to welcome their first child in January.
Docherty worked as the Western Bulldogs' fan engagement manager this year, but lost his position last month due to COVID-19.
He had previously worked as Melbourne Football Club's academy manager.
The uncertainty of COVID life in Melbourne has played a role in the young couple relocating to Corowa around Christmas.
"(Corowa-Rutherglen footballer) Jordan (Lavis) was obviously getting stuck into me and (Renee's father Rod) 'Whale' and all the Lavis crew, they said I needed to come down and have a kick," he explained.
"I've always wanted to play in the O and M, it's definitely one of the most known footy leagues, when you talk country footy in the MPN League you talk Ovens and Murray, so to go up there and play will be awesome."
Docherty has an interesting football background in that while he has played eight seasons of senior football in Victoria, he also played six years in Canada.
He played for Toronto Central Blues in AFL Ontario and promoted the sport in the fledgling football nation, coaching the team in his last three years.
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One aspect that can be guaranteed is that Docherty would never have faced an AFL premiership player in his time in Canada.
Wangaratta's signing of Collingwood 2010 grand final winner Ben Reid means the 190cm Docherty will now oppose a player he was barracking for against St Kilda.
