He will head an expanded coaching panel in a non-playing capacity, with last year’s senior coach Aaron Braeckmans, Zane Ross and Beau Ketchen his assistants.

Beaston is a former Carngham-Linton player who has spent the past two years as a senior assistant coach in the Maryborough Castlemaine District league – Maryborough Rovers in 2015 and Royal Park in 2016.

Ross steps up from playing ranks, while Ketchen is another returning to the Saints and the club’s first key playing recruit.

Ketchen last played with Carngham-Linton in 2015 before switching to Lismore-Derrinallum in the Mininera District league.

Carngham-Linton club president Sam Richardson said it was a great relief to have the coaching positions finalised before the end of the year.

He said despite hitting many dead-ends in the search, the club was more than happy with the outcome.

Richardson said Beaston had a genuine desire to enter a senior coaching career and saw this as a great opportunity.

He said the club was delighted that all four had backgrounds with the Saints and had the club at heart.

Carngham-Linton did not win a game this year.

Beaston, who made his Saints debut in 1999, said his first objective was to lay a strong foundation with the playing group by way of small gains on the field.

He said he wanted to make Carngham-Linton a destination club for players.

IN other CHFL coaching developments, former Kangaroo Flat seniors coaching panel member Tim McCormick has joined Daylesford.

McCormick will be a non-playing assistant to senior coach Marcus Goonan next season. He played all junior football with Golden Square in the Bendigo league and Inglewood, where coached seniors and reserves.

McCormick has been with Kangaroo Flat for two years.

Meanwhile, Daylesford has lost Tom Button to Melton in the BFL.

Button played 18 senior games with the Bulldogs – one with his father and former Daylesford coach Andrew Button.

Button also has strong ties with Melton, where his father is also a modern era great. Tom played juniors with the Bloods before a four-year stay at Daylesford. 

Andrew is a dual Melton premiership player (2001 and 2005) and a premiership captain.

BUNGAREE has landed promising young ruckman Matthew Geary from North Ballarat City in the Ballarat league.

Geary started last season in the under-18.5s and went on to make seven senior appearances.

His arrival will add to Bungaree’s already strong big man department headed by 2016 CHFL best and fairest David Benson.