SEASON 2020 | Darren McCauley brings added firepower to Essendon Royals line-up

Essendon Royals have bolstered their forward line with the addition of Northern Irishman Darren McCauley to the senior men’s attacking arsenal.

The forward brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the Royals front-line.

Comfortable on either the wing or through the middle, McCauley arrives at the Royals fresh off a season spent between Scotland and Ireland’s top-flight leagues.

McCauley started 2019 in the Scottish top-flight as a mid-season signing for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Premiership, where he made 13 league appearances and scored two goals.

Prior to this, McCauley made a name for himself at Colerain Football Club in the Nothern Ireland top-flight (NIFL Premiership), where he scored 41 goals in 141 league games between 2012 and 2014.

He also spent some time on loan at Celtic as a youngster in 2010.

At the conclusion of the 2018/19 season in Scotland, McCauley departed Scotland to return to his native Ireland, signing for Derry City for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Seeking a change of lifestyle, McCauley made the move to Australia following the conclusion of the League of Ireland Premier Division, before signing with the Royals.

“I just wanted a change of scenery and I wasn’t too sure where my football career would end up,” he said.

“I was going to consider taking up a coaching role more seriously and more professionally but then I looked around at a few teams here and I met ‘V’ [Essendon Royals senior men’s coach, Vitale Ferrante] and I was very impressed by his ideas surrounding Essendon.

“We just clicked very well.”

McCauley said he was excited for a new chapter in his football career and was hopeful of troubling the scorers with plenty of goals at Cross Keys Reserve this season.

“I’d like to think the fans could expect some goals and some good performances,” he said.

“As a player, I like to create something, whether that be goals myself or assists.

“I can hold up the ball or run at defences and I think I’m someone who can get fans on the edge of their seats.”

Speaking of his experience in Scotland’s top-flight, McCauleys said he took a lot of good lessons from his time with Inverness and was looking forward to bringing that experience to the Royals.

“It was really good, but it was tough,” he said.

“I was finishing off a degree in nutrition at the time, and I think that combined with the full-time training, it took its toll.

“I think in another time I would have seen out my contract, I still had time left on my contract and I called it short early to go back to Ireland [for Derry City].

“But it was a great learning experience and it’s something I appreciate and have gratitude for because it’s made me a better person and player.”

Of the project he has signed up for at the Royals, McCauley said he was happy to be working with a coach like Ferrante, who he said impressed him with his humility and honest appraisal of the job at hand.

“It’s new and it’s fresh and I know ‘V’ has a big job on his hands,” he said.

“I’m here to help as much as I can. I know he is a very reputable manager with a lot of good experience around Victoria and I know he hasn’t come down to State League 1 just to take part.

“I don’t intend to do that either. For me, it’s a good opportunity to have an experience of Australian football and try and give something back to the game here and help Essendon become a successful force in this league and beyond.”

McCauley joins an increasingly dangerous-looking Essendon Royals forward line which has already seen Davey Van’t Schip recommit as well as the addition of former South Melbourne star Leigh Minopoulos.