Dalgleish said it was an easy decision to make after he was not picked up by an AFL club in the national draft.

"After Essendon I was a bit annoyed with footy. But joining Footscray, I have started to love it again, which has been great. The body is feeling the best it has in years,” he said.

The Footscray team has undergone some changes with some new players joining the team along with a new coach.

Dalgleish said the changes would create new challenges for the 2017 season. "Being there for a year has made it more of a leadership role for me this year, especially for the younger boys from the TAC Cup that got drafted.”

He has juggled football commitments with a full-time study load at university, but he said he was glad to return to the club after a bit of a break.

“I have been looking forward to it for the past month. The break is good but always enjoy seeing everyone again.”