In another thrilling coup for footy in regional Victoria, former Essendon and St Kilda speedster Nick Hind has signed with the Darley Devils for the 2025 season.
The announcement was made via the Darley Devils' Instagram account, which welcomed Hind with a lengthy caption.
Hind, who played 95 AFL games before being delisted by Essendon, is no stranger to the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL). He began his journey in local football at East Point in 2013, where he played under current Darley coach Dan Jordan.
After an impressive performance during the BFNL Interleague campaign in 2016, he joined Essendon's VFL program, eventually being drafted by St Kilda in 2018.
Expressing his excitement about returning to local football, Hind said: “I'm super excited to be joining DJ and the Devils for 2025. I've obviously kept a close eye on them over the past few years with DJ at the helm and watched a few games when I could.
"I love the environment the club has created and found the boys and the club really welcoming.”
Darley's coach, Dan Jordan, also shared his enthusiasm about reuniting with Hind.
“I have obviously been a close friend of Nick's over the past 10 years and we had spoken about him coming to play when his AFL career ended," he said.
"I know he is the sort of character and footballer that will greatly add to our program and continue to help develop our considerable young talent by bringing his experience, work ethic, and leadership to our club.”
Club president Mark Shelly expressed confidence in the signing.
“He's signed and committed. He's had a very close relationship with Dan over the past few years. At the end of the day, we trust Dan Jordan's judgement.”
Hind's arrival should significantly boost the Devils' 2025 campaign, especially alongside fellow ex-AFL player Brett Bewley.
Shelly added, “the real boost for us is all of a sudden the teams we compete against have all run around trying to put two or three players on Brett; now they have someone of Nick's calibre to deal with.”
The Devils are aiming to bounce back after a season hindered by injuries.
“We don't make excuses. The reality is we were probably the third-best team all year and that's where we finished. Having said that, we had some key personnel out at various times,” Shelly noted.
With Hind now in the fold, the Devils are well-positioned to make a strong push for their second premiership in three years. His presence should not only bolster the team's on-field performance but also provide AFL-level experience and leadership for the club's younger crop.
As Darley prepares for the upcoming season, fans can look forward to an exciting year ahead with Nick Hind back in the regional league, ready to showcase his breakneck speed at local level.
