The appointment comes after Paul Cleaver’s three-year tenure during a time when the club reached two consecutive Horsham District league grand finals. 

President Rosemary Langley said Pekin had been a great asset to the club this year as an assistant coach and the club looked forward to him leading from the front again. 

“His experience, knowledge and enthusiasm for the game will be a great asset,” she said. 

The Southern Roos have also announced their first signing for the 2018 season – Simon Close.

Close is a former Southern Roos who played the 2017 season with the Geelong Football Club. 

Meanwhile, Chris Oliver has been appointed the new Edenhope-Apsley senior coach, replacing Michael Rowe. Saints president Trevor McClure said Oliver would inject enthusiasm into the role. 

“He has already called current players and is talking to new players,” he said. 

“He has captained us before and has done a lot of coaching and training around the club.

“Chris is highly respected within the group.”

Natimuk United president Adam Blake said the club had retained Sam Anson as playing-coach after a strong season.

“It was a year of considerable achievement, but we aren’t going to sit back and say, ‘how good was that?’,” he said. 

“We see it as a stepping stone towards better things.”

Kalkee has re-signed the services of playing-coach Hamish Exell. 

President Trevor McRae said Exell did an exceptional job with the players he had at his disposal. 

“Hamish is an on-field leader who is conscientious about the club and is community minded,” he said.

Swifts have re-appointed Scott Carey as 2018 senior playing-coach.

President Steve Hoffmann said the clubs goal is to reach the big dance in 2018. 

“Things are looking pretty good,” he said. 

Laharum has already appointed Robbie Miller as its 2018 coach.

At the Southern Mallee Giants, premiership coach Shaun Monohan has stepped down after his first year in charge. 

Giants president Stephen Hallam said the club was working to find a coach who would be the right fit.

Jeparit-Rainbow, Taylors Lake, Pimpinio, Noradjuha-Quantong, Rupanyup and Swifts are also yet to secure their coaching appointments.