Boom Yarrawonga recruit Dan Howe says he's excited at the prospect of having a life outside the AFL.
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The 28-year-old has returned to his junior club after nine years and 107 games at the elite level.
"It obviously means a lot, I've got a strong connection to the club, having played most of my juniors there, obviously my brother (Lach) is there and also dad (Chris) is involved," he said excitedly.
A versatile player who featured largely in defence and the midfield, Howe was selected by Hawthorn at No. 31 in the 2014 National Draft and played 96 games.
He then reunited with former Hawks' coach Alastair Clarkson at North Melbourne last year, playing 11 games, before retiring.
"It's definitely hard work, particularly when you're down the bottom of the ladder, clubs are trying to find out what's next and how to prepare themselves to move up the ladder," he revealed.
"That's probably what was hard, thinking I was in the best 22 and not getting played but, having said that, we're still playing footy for a living, so you can't really complain too much, we're in a very fortunate position to do that.
"I want to enjoy my footy again, the AFL is enjoyable, but it is your whole life as well, so to come back and play locally is something I'm really looking forward to.
"I wanted to come back to a club that means something to me and that I have a strong connection to."
The 193cm, 85kg utility has initially committed to a one-year deal.
Howe will be reunited with his older sibling for the first time since the pair played seniors at Rennie as teenagers.
"We're very close, I was a groomsman at his wedding and catch up when we can, it will be nice having him to do the three-hour drive (from Melbourne)," Dan suggested.
Lach Howe played in the Pigeons' four-point premiership against Albury last September, a lifelong dream he had spoken of previously, and now Dan will look to join him as he chases his first flag since the under 13s at Rennie.
It means the Pigeons will boast three former AFL players in Howe, Did Simpson medallist Michael Gibbons and star midfielder Mark Whiley.
The premiers boast an impressive recent recruiting record with players straight from the AFL in Peter Foster, Jason Wild, Tim Hargreaves, Whiley and Gibbons.
Yarrawonga played in six consecutive grand finals from 2009 - all against Albury - claiming flags in 2012-13.
With Gibbons, Harry and Willie Wheeler, Leigh Masters and Leigh Williams all locked away on long-term deals, the Pigeons have laid the foundations for their next golden era and a dynasty under former Geelong star Steve Johnson.
In a further bonus, the Pigeons have largely kept their premiership list intact after Johnson delivered the club its first flag in a decade.
