Orzel commits to Kangas

Matt Orzel hopes the desire which typified his gritty 156-game WAFL career will still be burning when he runs out onto the ground this season for his former club North Albany.

Having only made the decision to commit to playing three weeks ago after moving back to Albany late last year, the 30-year-old's return to his home club is another boost to the Kangas' chances of back-to-back flags. But Orzel is instead focusing on the enjoyment of life back in his home town with wife Olivia and three young daughters.

Having last played for the Kangas in a colts premiership in 2001 before venturing to Perth and carving out more than 150 games with Claremont and Peel, the tough midfielder said family would come first this year after 11 grinding seasons of league football.

"Without footy included I just love it down here now, it's good to bring my girls up and live the Albany lifestyle again after being in Perth for 10 years," he said before his first hit-out in an intra-club match last Saturday.

"I just love the simple things now that I'm down here.

"I was probably going to play, I've just tried to put my family first, my work second and then footy third.

"Mick (Mustey) didn't put any pressure on me to play; I'm glad I'm going to play this year, if it's not every game it will be the majority of them anyway."

Orzel, who retired alongside Tiger teammates Luke Blackwell, Trinity Handley and Andrew Foster last season, said watching his former teammates run out for round 1 felt strange with him not being there.

"I really missed the pre-season; when you feel good, you feel fit. I would have loved to have been out there round 1 but it also feels really good to be retired too," he said.

"I had to bust my arse every single training; nothing came easy for me in Perth, I had to earn everything I got up there.

"This year is all about enjoyment, having my family down here and playing with some close mates we have been talking about playing with for years, and whatever else comes in the year is a bonus."

Orzel will wear the No.6 jumper, which was retired following the death of friend and former colts teammate Jukka Guy in 2013, and he hoped his hard-nosed approach to the game was still there.

"(I'm) naturally pretty competitive and have a pretty physical nature on the field. Once I play that first game I'm hoping I still have that in me," Orzel said.