NATIMUK United are hoping consistency and stability will help aid an ascent in the Horsham District football league.
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The Rams have re-signed head coach Jarred Combe for the next three seasons - 2021, 2022, and 2023 - while star player Mitch Riddell has also signed on as an assistant coach for 2021.
Combe came aboard at Natimuk prior to the cancelled 2020 season, signing as a co-coach alongside Sam Anson.
He will now take the reigns as sole head coach, while Anson will remain at the club as a player.
Combe said stability was of great importance, particularly as the club navigates the consequences of COVID-19.
"From a club point of view, they were really keen to lock it away for three years, to get some stability and continuity," he said.
"It gives me a good opportunity now to really hopefully build some success over the next few years."
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Combe said he was excited to pick up where Anson left off, but admitted he had big shoes to fill.
"Sam has obviously done a fantastic job to get the club to where it's at now. He's put in a hell of a lot of effort," Combe said.
"You could say he has been a really big part of turning the club's senior football side around.
"I think previous to Sam, the club had about nine coaches in eight years. To have the consistency he brought has been huge.
"For him now, he's happy just to take a step back and help where needed. I think having him as a player will greatly benefit us as well."
Combe also complimented Riddell as a "true leader" of the football club and said he was looking forward to working alongside the talented swingman.
Combe said the club was looking forward to moving beyond the disappointment of 2020.
"All the players, juniors, seniors and the supporters have been feeling the pinch of missing out on a whole football-netball season," he said.
"It's something that you would have never planned for, and never even thought you would experience in a lifetime.
"The coaches and volunteers had put a lot of work to get the club up and going, so to have the season abandoned was a tough pill to swallow.
"But hopefully 2021 is a new day and there's a brighter future ahead."
Combe said it was still difficult to plan too far ahead due to the uncertainty of the coronavirus.
He said lingering doubt over the 2021 season was also worrying.
"All you can do is just take it week-by-week at the moment. When it happens it happens," he said.
"Hopefully we can just play footy in general next year, because it's an integral part of our lives and of the community as well."
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