Clunes will herald a new era with Luke Davidson taking on the coaching role for the 2022 Central Highlands Football League season.
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Davidson was a playing assistant coach in 2021 and has spent the past four years with Magpies.
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He fills the role vacated by Johno Leoncini, who ended his tenure after four years and three seasons with the club.
Clunes president Brendan Sheehan said the club was thrilled with Davidson's appointment.
"We're happy to have Luke. He's been playing for us the past four years and was assistant under Johno this season," he said.
"He knows the playing group and knows what the club's all about and what we're trying to achieve.
"He knows all the boys that are playing, their strengths and weaknesses, and what he can do to help develop them into better footballers."
Clunes finished 11th in an injury-plagued season, improving on its wooden spoon finish in 2019 and offering plenty of promising signs for the future. The Magpies won four of their first five games to record their best start to a season since 2005.
Davidson played nine games this season and formed a vital part of the defensive group.
It's expected the Magpies' new coach will hang up the boots in 2022 and take on a non-playing role.
"That was (Luke's) decision. He thought it would be best for the team if he was leading from the sidelines and not actually playing," Sheehan said. "He can concentrate more on what's going on."
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