The key leadership role is a reward for his commitment to representative football.

Page will lead Ballarat against arch-rival Bendigo in the AFL Victoria Community Championship at Bendigo’s Queens Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.

Redan skipper Liam Hoy is vice-captain for what will be his debut for the BFL.

Ballarat head coach Shaun O’Loughlin said Page was highly regarded in the league.

“He’s Darley’s captain and a strong advocate for interleague football.

“He jumped at the opportunity when asked,” O’Loughlin said.

Page said it was a privilege to be appointed captain.

“Can’t wait to get into it.”

He said last year’s shoulder injury had been heartbreaking. “I’d never really missed football before.”

Page said he was “stoked” to be back .

He said to be ranked up with the best players in the competition was “pretty special” and it was an opportunity he was always going to put his hand up for.

Page moved from Kyneton to Darley in 2013 after the Tigers withdrew from the Bendigo Football League senior football competition.

He quickly made a stamp on the Devils and the BFL – captaining the Devils to their first premiership in 2015.

Page also represented Ballarat in that year in a 77-point demolition of Bendigo, which he also represented while with Kyneton.

O’Loughlin put his squad through a light session at Darley on Tuesday and will wrap up the preparation at Wendouree on Thursday.

He said he had received great support from all club coaches in putting together a line-up.

O’Loughlin said the new selection process of bypassing naming an expanded squad and naming the final team straight up had been well received. “We did a lot of research to ensure we got the right players.”

O’Loughlin is assisted by Bacchus Marsh premiership coach Travis Hodgson, Melton South joint coach Sean Triplett and former Wendouree coach Gavin Webb.