Wimmera-Mail Times | HORSHAM DEMONS will be bolstered by the return of former coach Jordyn Burke, who has been granted a transfer from Geelong District Football League side Bannockburn.
Burke co-coached the Demons to a premiership in 2014 but has been commuting from Horsham to play for the Tigers.
He is currently suffering from a minor shoulder injury but is likely to return to the Demons' line-up as the club looks to continue its premiership dominance.
Burke launched his clearance application on Tuesday, with Demons vice president Rod Dumesny confirming Burke will return to his old stomping ground.
"It's all confirmed. It's all done," he said.
"It's just a matter of process with Bannockburn. Jordy is leaving them on very good terms."
Burke expects to return to the Tigers for the 2016 season as he and his family plan to move closer to the coast.
"October or November is when we'll definitely be relocating, but at this point in time it's been put on the backburner a little bit," he said.
"But it's more a postponement than anything. With the family commitments I've got and the inability to relocate at this point in time - my work's still in Horsham at the moment - it's just made it too hard to continually travel and be away from my young family."
Burke said he was looking forward to playing with the Tigers next year, but in the mean-time, the Demons are thrilled to have him back.
"We're really happy to have him back. He's a leader and an excellent player," Mr Dumesny said.
"Jordy is one of our kids who started here when he was knee-high to a grasshopper.
"He went through the Rebels program and we supported him to go as far as he could.
"He's well respected and the whole Burke family are respected and cherished members of the club."
Despite playing for Bannockburn, Burke has continued to train alongside his Demons team-mates.
He has received support from Bannockburn's coach Craig McGough.
"We had a number of discussions about it, and we just thought, longer term, it's more beneficial for him to support his wife and look after his family," he said.
"It makes life easier for everybody."
Mr Dumesny did not shy away from saying Burke would be a handy inclusion.
“Out of all of this, it’s our gain,” he said.
“We went and told our players and they’re all really happy about it.”