Childs is joining the Demons after playing this year with Loddon Valley league club Calivil United where he won the best and fairest.

Childs brings with him a wealth of football experience that includes playing with both the Bendigo Bombers and Bendigo Pioneers.

He also coached South Bendigo for four seasons from 2016 to 2019 and is a Goulburn Valley league premiership player with the Shepparton Swans.

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Childs' return to the Demons, where he played as far back as under-12s, coincides with Jack Fallon taking over the helm as a first-time senior coach.

"That coaching experience Brady has is one of the main reasons I got him on board, but he's also a one-point player as well after playing in the juniors at White Hills," Fallon said on Friday.

"He's got a lot of good mates at the club, so we're rapt he's decided to come back and have a kick with them.

"He has plenty of experience in the game and has played a high standard of footy and his knowledge is going to be a great asset for me.

"Having played against him I know just what a tough opponent he is and it's going to be good to have him on my side.

"He just loves his footy like me and wants success and, hopefully, we're on the right path for it."

The addition of Childs into the engine room comes after the Demons have lost former coach Sam Kerridge, who has ended his stint with White Hills that began in 2019.

"Brady will throw his weight around in there and crack in, but he's also got good skills as well, so he's a great addition into that midfield group for us," Fallon said.

Meanwhile, Fallon capped his first season this year at the Demons with the senior best and fairest award, with gun forward Jed Lamb, who has also moved on, runner-up.

It's Fallon's second senior best and fairest after also winning Eaglehawk's George Ilsley Medal in the Hawks' 2019 premiership season.

"With Sam (Kerridge) being in Melbourne I took the majority of the year coaching during the week, so it was a big year mentally," Fallon said.

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"It was good to get a bit of reward, but I haven't thought about it too much... I've gone into this coaching job now and I'm keen to hit the ground running and get on to 2022 and see what we can do with a good list."

The Demons, who haven't won a senior flag since 1988, ended the 2021 season fourth on the ladder with a 9-4 record having one stage been 6-0.

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