Following the news Carngham-Linton coach Matt Beaston has pulled the pin immediately, Heath Pyke will finish up as Bungaree senior coach at the end of the Central Highlands Football League season.

Pyke said he and the Demons had reached agreement last year that he would pull up stumps at the end of 2019.

He is in his fifth season as Bungaree coach - his first in a non-playing capacity.

Pyke, who played in a Ballarat Football League premiership with Lake Wendouree in 2010, joined the Demons in 2013.

He served his coaching apprenticeship as an assistant to Greg Middleton before taking over as head coach in 2015.

Bungaree played in finals in his first three years in charge, but missed out last season by two premiership points in finishing ninth.

In this year's AFL Victoria Community Championships clash, Pyke served as joint-coach of the Highlanders with Rohan Brown.

Pyke's announcement comes in a week that Waubra's Matt James was re-appointed for next season and Carngham-Linton's Matt Beaston stood down.

James will head into his third season as coach of the Roos in 2020, while Tom Sarah will step up as Beaston's replacement for the rest of the campaign.

MEANWHILE, Ballarat Swans' Keegan Mellington is set for a much longer time on the sidelines with a hip injury than initially envisaged.

Coach Joe Carmody said Mellington was looking at at least another five to six weeks before returning.

The VFL-experienced Mellington was injured in round two against Redan.

He had hoped to return against Lake Wendouree a week ago, but was unable to get through training.

Mellington's development continues a horror run for the Swans, which sit on the bottom of the ladder without a win after five rounds.

The appearance of another two new faces against Darley at Alfredton on Saturday will mean Ballarat has already used 36 players in senior matches.

EAST Point will be looking to bounce back after its first loss of the AFL Goldfields senior women's season.

The Dragons run into unbeaten reigning premier Redan.