FORMER Melbourne star Aaron Davey joined the club in Maroochydore on Saturday to gain some invaluable coaching experience as he looks to further develop his skills in the field.

Davey, who played 178 games for the Demons between 2004 and 2013, was invited back to the red and blue by assistant coach Craig Jennings as part of an Indigenous coaching pathway.

“I’m working up at AFL Cairns now and one of my roles is to try to get some coaches to come up to local community footy,” Davey told Melbourne Media.

“Jenno was awesome and he’s been really massive for me throughout the year.”

The 35-year-old has remained involved in football while living up North and is extremely passionate about the coaching side of the game.

“The ambition is there to one day be a coach,” Davey said.

“I know it’s been a topic about trying to get more Indigenous coaches in the system which I think is fantastic and Melbourne have done that and given me an opportunity to come along here.”

Davey spent the entire training session out on the field following the coaches around and getting involved in some drills.

“I’m just floating around in the background being a sponge and taking one or two things away,” he said.

“But you never know what footy holds. Opportunities do open up in footy – never say never.

“You never know, I could be back in Melbourne in a few years time, or I’m still living in Cairns – I could be anywhere.”

Davey became the first Indigenous Melbourne player to win a club best and fairest award in 2009 and was a fan-favourite throughout his entire career.

The loveable character has put his leadership skills into practice since his retirement and says he thoroughly enjoys teaching others his craft.

“The best thing about coaching is just being able to work with people and manage people and that’s one of things I love about the whole coaching concept,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m very grateful to be given that by the Melbourne Football Club.”

And the coaching field is something Davey has been eyeing off for a while now.

“At the backend of my career I always had the ambitions of being a coach,” Davey said.

“I’d done my coaching level two and all that towards the end of my career.

“I guess as a player you start worrying about your transition out of the game, so I started investing in that.”

After a few years in the coaching system, Davey has become even more passionate about the role and was further inspired after spending a day with the Demons.

“It’s a very humbling experience to be asked to come back and … all the boys have really looked after me and trying to teach me stuff,” he said.

Simon Goodwin and the entire coaching group embraced Davey and helped him learn all about what it takes to coach at the top level.

“They’re very knowledgeable and very approachable for all the boys,” Davey said.

“That’s one of the standout things you can sort of feel that buzz and excitement and the whole unity as a football club.

“The boys are going really well and they’ve got some really good coaches that are giving them some really valuable information.

“These boys have been like sponges and just watching the intensity that they’re training at and the skill level is obviously reflective of the great team they are.”

Davey is a life member of the Melbourne Football Club and says he and his family will forever bleed for the red and blue.