Oliver guided the side to a preliminary final in his first season as senior coach of the club this year. 

Edenhope-Apsley president Carolyn Middleton said it was a very easy decision to re-sign the coach.

“It was very easy. We wanted to sort out where the club was going but once that was sorted Chris discussed it with his family and they were right behind him,” she said.

“He really united the club this year. Players look up to him and respect him and the whole club got behind him because of those values. That filtered through the whole club.

“He gave a very emotional speech last year at the presentation night about looking after the club that has looked after him. He is very passionate about moving the club forward. He has a great character and we have faith in each other.”

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Ms Middleton said the club was on the front foot with recruiting, something that didn’t occur last season.

“The boys have been recruiting early this year and the vibe is so much different to last year,” she said. 

“The guys are right onto it early and feel as though we aren’t too far away from the top sides.”

Oliver said he was very keen to keep coaching next season.

“I’ve been around the club for 10 years and I am pretty passionate about the club,” he said.

“We want to make sure now that we can keep a lot of the guys from this season and we will be getting onto that very soon.

“We are also on the front foot with recruiting, because before you know it guys will be snapped up.”