The star utility has informed the Bloods he would return to former Geelong league club Leopold, where he won a premiership in 2016.

Moloney’s departure is set to leave a big hole in Terang Mortlake’s side with the club already losing key forward Chris Bant to Panmure.

However, Leopold coach Guy Morphet said he was rapt with the signing of Moloney which would bolster the Lions’ forward line.

"We are really excited to have him back," he said.

"He is obviously a quality player and one that we think that will fill a good spot in our line up.

"So he will play centre half-forward and he may do a little bit of back-up ruck duties if we need him to, but he will predominately a forward."

"Alex is a quality player and played some really good football in the GFL while he was here, so I have no doubt he will transition back and find his feet really quickly. I think he will slot back in nicely."

Moloney returns to the Lions’ den after just one season at his home club.

Morphet said Leopold was always hopeful of having him back in the green and gold.

"You never really say you are confident because you just don't really know what players are thinking, but we always knew he wanted to go back home for family reasons,” he said.

"As a coach I always leave the door open for people to comeback, I never burn a bridge in football and never close any doors.

"So we always said to Alex if the time was right to comeback to GFL football then we would keep our dialogue open with him and that maybe happen sooner than we thought.

"Luckily for us when we had a bit of a sit down at the end of the season and wanted to see where each other was at, he said he was keen to come back."

Terang Mortlake coach Michael Sargeant said Moloney left the club due to work commitments as a graduate accountant in Melbourne.

He said the Bloods were sad to lose him but understood and respected his situation.

"At the end of the day if he didn't move to Melbourne he would be our player," he said.

"He bleeds red and blue and we know that, it is just circumstances for this year have changed, that's not to say it won't be different next year.

"And to Alex's credit he always wants to play the highest level he possible can, so we can't begrudge that."