Retired Essendon star Michael Hurley will return to where it all began in 2023

Retired Essendon star Michael Hurley will return to where it all began in 2023, signing on at his junior club.

Michael Hurley return to Macleod. Picture: Supplied

Macleod has made the first big splash of the Northern Football League off-season.

The Kangas have secured retired Essendon star and junior talent Michael Hurley for 2023.

Hurley called time on his decorated AFL career this year after making an inspiring recovery from a life-threatening hip infection.

The key defender made an emotional return to the senior Essendon side in Round 23 against Richmond, finishing on 194 games.

Taken with pick No.5 in the 2008 AFL Draft, Hurley became one of the league’s best defenders, twice named All-Australian.

Steve Doherty with new recruit Michael Hurley.

Hurley is looking forward to returning to DeWinton Park and running out alongside some of his junior mates.

“It’s great to be coming home,” he told the Macleod website.

“Macleod Football Club holds a special place in my heart, going back to the junior club and playing some senior footy in 2006.

“Our family still has very close ties with the club so to pull on a Macleod jumper again will be a big thrill.

“A lot of the guys I played junior footy with are still playing and I can’t wait to be out there alongside them again.”

Hurley hopes to earn a coaching role at AFL or VFL level and will manage his playing commitments around those duties.

At 193cm, Hurley will be a massive boost to the Kangas’ coach Craig Hayes in attack

Macleod ranked eighth in points for this season as they finished seventh, remaining in finals contention until the final fortnight of the campaign.

Hayes was rapt to have him on board.

“It’s exciting, it’s not too often you sign an All-Australian to your local footy club,” he said.

“He’ll play up front, we’ve had that discussion.

“I don’t think after 15 years in the AFL chasing people around the backline and want to come back and play defence at local level.

“His dad was president and on the committee for many years and still comes to game and is often there on a Thursday night to have a chat, so the family connection is still strong.

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“It’s fantastic (to have him back), we play on 23 points most weeks so to get a guy that’s played at his level back and be a one-pointer allows us the luxury of being pretty aggressive with our recruiting.”

Macleod president Ean Newbold said it was a sign of the club’s strength when former juniors returned.

“The club is delighted to welcome a player of Michael’s standing in the football community back to De Winton Park,” he said.

“As an ex-Macleod junior, his recruitment supports our approach in providing a future home for local juniors to continue their senior football careers.”