North Warrnambool Eagles sign Sam McLachlan, Darcy Keast and Tom O'Leary for 2019 Hampden league season

Sam McLachlan, Darcy Keast and Tom O’Leary will return to the Hampden league in 2019 after signing with the Bushfield-based club.

All three played in the strong Geelong league this season – McLachlan at Colac, Keast at Leopold and O’Leary at Bell Park.

McLachlan had a stint at VFL club Geelong and in 2016 was considered an AFL draft chance.

Their commitment follows ex-AFL utility Billie Smedts’ signing in September and the announcement of six-time Hampden league premiership coach Adam Dowie as mentor in July.

Keast, 25, said he was excited to recommit to his home club. The Geelong-based accountant last played for the Eagles in 2014 before a four-year stint with Leopold, which included the Lions’ breakthrough premiership in 2016.

“It was an unreal experience. It was a really good club to win one with and it was comparable to North too because they’d never won one,” he said.

Keast, who is overcoming a broken leg which will delay his start to pre-season, is confident the Eagles can put a wooden spoon season behind them and return to finals.

“It is really exciting to have Adam onboard – everyone knows what he’s done,” he said. “And I played with Billie last season at Leopold.”

Keast and O’Leary could slot into defence with McLachlan a goal-kicking utility.

The Eagles have appointed as senior assistant Chris Lenehan and welcomed Tim Condon, who will assist from the bench, back to the club after a year coaching Warrnambool and District league club Panmure.

Nick Butters has also returned from Panmure and will coach the Eagles’ reserves.

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