Priest is as well known around Echuca South Recreation Reserve as he is on the country footy scene, first starting in the TAC Cup system where he won the league-wide Morrish Medal in 2008.
With a stint in the VFL for Werribee Tigers before returning to country footy, Priest landed at Echuca United in 2012, following brother Rowan to the club.
A member of the Eagles’ 2013 premiership flag-winning team, Priest then went on to play in Benalla's drought-breaking GVL premiership in 2015.
He made a return to the Eagles’ nest from 2017 to 2019 before he departed for Heathcote district league club Elmore, where Priest managed just four games for the Bloods this year before rupturing his ACL for a second time.
It was that injury that made Priest re-evaluate his next steps in the game.
“I was going to move into coaching at some point, and just due to what stage I am in my football career and coming off another serious injury, I thought it would be the best time to step in,” he said.
“I always wanted to get back to United and give coaching a go. I'm still looking to play next year at some stage but I'll really focus on that coaching side early in the year.”
It has been a tumultuous season for United this year, with the club parting ways with senior coach Adam Sutherland nine games into the season.
Francis Lias stepped in as acting coach to finish the year, with the club recording just one win before the season was prematurely cancelled last month.
But the task of rebuilding United doesn't scare Priest in the slightest, with excitement the leading emotion.
“I think results speak for themselves this year; we won one game,” he said.
“But the main objective is retention and keeping players there from this year, and bringing in key positional players that we need.
“They've got a really good youth system coming through, so our main objective is to keep the youth and build more games into them and upskill them in any way we can.”
A key part of United's previous successes, Priest has firsthand knowledge of what a winning culture can look like.
“I've been an assistant and captain at United before, so I've been in the inner circle of how a football club runs, which helps,” he said.
“I know the environment and the atmosphere the club has had; if we get that back, that family environment and get older heads back, I'm really excited to get all that happening.”
Priest admits the biggest challenge next year remains the potential for more COVID-19 restrictions, as local leagues attempt to get their first full season in since 2019.
“I think the challenge will be to keep everyone motivated, online or away from the football club if we can't get there,” he said.
“We'll hit the ground running in terms of trying to get people who we think will make a big impact.
“It's going to be stepping stones for us in terms of where we are trying to get to.
“We're hoping to bridge that gap pretty quickly.”
A return to the Murray League system also excites Priest, with the coach aiming to lift United back up the ladder.
“There are some really good teams out there, and teams like Tonny and Cobram,” he said.
“They've had a fair few years together, so we are not expecting to jump straight into finals.
“Finals for us is what we want to get to, but we've got to understand there is a process.
“Hopefully, with no COVID-19, we can have a full pre-season and get back to a normal year.”
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