Shaun Atley to play alongside brothers at home club in Goulburn Valley

Shaun Atley was delisted by North Melbourne last year, so he’s heading back to Rochester to fulfil a decade-old promise with his brothers.

A pact made between Shaun Atley and his two younger brothers as teenagers will become reality when they play together at Goulburn Valley league club Rochester this year.

Atley’s 234-match AFL career at North Melbourne across 11 seasons ended in 2021 when he was delisted by the Roos.

The chance reunite with brothers Joe and Jacob only a year later at the country club where their father Brendan also played has proven irresistible.

But it’s only a small window of opportunity with Shaun and his Swedish fiance Julia planning to move overseas in October with a mid-year holiday also on the agenda.

“(North Melbourne) was going in a more youthful direction and I understood that,” he said.

“I also lost the passion and the drive a little bit.

“But I’m really looking forward to taking a step back and playing with my brothers at a local level.

“We always spoke about it growing up to be able to play one year for Rochy together and enjoy that.”

Atley was born in the Rochester area, but at age 10 his family moved to Corryong when father Brendan was appointed principal of the Catholic primary school in the Upper Murray town.

Shaun Atley on the family farm at Corop near Rochester. Picture: Michael Dodge, AAP

The remote location meant thousands of kilometres on the road to play junior football, firstly in Albury-Wodonga and then the Murray Bushrangers before being selected with pick 17 at the 2010 draft.

It was a vintage draft with other selections, Richmond premiership pair Tom Lynch and Dion Prestia, Sydney star Luke Parker, Essendon captain Dyson Heppell and West Coast’s Andrew Gaff among those still playing at the elite level.

But for 29-year-old Atley playing for Rochester alongside Joe, who also spent time at Port Adelaide and is presently on Essendon’s VFL list, and Jacob awaits.

Joe is expected to play most of the season with the Bombers, but has got the all clear to play in GV season opener.

Atley said he left the AFL with few regrets.

Shaun Atley played 234 matches for North Melbourne before being delisted at end of the last season. Picture: Michael Dodge, AAP

“I didn’t get the chance to win a grand final or even play in one which is always something that is disappointing,” he said.

“I’ve very grateful and lucky to play as many games as I did and experience the finals matches I did.

“I think I got the most out of my career that I could have other than getting to that elusive grand final.

“But no one has the perfect fairytale.”

Rochester is coached by another homegrown player in Steve Stroobants, who has also played at VFL level with North Melbourne before taking on the Tigers coaching job in 2020.

Club president Jeff Bright said the addition of Atley was a massive boost after two Covid destroyed seasons.

“You don’t ever get a bloke with 240 games under his belt who is not that old,” he said.

“He is only 29 and still played a lot of games last year.

“He’s such a quality person as well and the family are a great family.”