Combe will coach alongside Sam Anson for the 2020 season, as Natimuk United hope to build-upon a promising 2019 in the Horsham District football league.

Combe said it was the "perfect opportunity" for him to take the next step in his football career.

"I've always had an interest in coaching and it's something that I would look at after my playing career," Combe said.

"It's very exciting to have the opportunity to coach again, and coach alongside Sam. Sam knows the players inside and out, and me coming in from the outside, we'll be able to bounce ideas off each other and hopefully we can progress a bit further."

Combe last coached Noradjuha-Quantong in the Horsham District league in 2014 and 2015, before spending several seasons with the Horsham Saints in the Wimmera Football League.

Combe had a delayed start to his 2019 season after a lengthy summer of cricket, but managed to play the final nine games of the Wimmera league season for the Saints, including two finals.

With his new coaching role at Natimuk United, Combe said football would take precedence over cricket.

"I've rested the body up a bit this off-season, having not played cricket at all, and that will sort of take a back seat now so that I can freshen up the body for the football season," Combe said.

Co-coach Sam Anson said he was thrilled to have a co-coach for 2020. Anson said he had spoken with Combe at the end of 2018 about coming aboard.

"It's really good, really exciting for the club to have him sign for three years as well," Anson said.

"He's played a lot of senior footy, played in a premiership up at Beulah. He's super professional about how he goes about it and we're hoping to implement that as a part of our club culture as well."

Natimuk United president Greg Radford said the long-term plan was an excellent sign of stability.

"Considering where we've come from, preceding the last three years, we had about 10 coaches in eight years or something like that. It was pretty ordinary," Mr Radford said.

"So it's amazing what a few local blokes coming back and a bit of player buy-in will do, and we're really pleased with the way things are going."

Natimuk United have also announced the signing of Joey Ronald from the Northern Territory.

The Rams have however lost the services of Jaydon Stiles and Jordan Smith, with youngster Dylan Bates also lodging a clearance to follow Stiles to Marcona in the Golden Rivers Football League.

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