By Colin MacGillivray

While the Horsham District and Wimmera Football League seasons still have weeks of finals ahead, several teams have kept an eye on next season by locking in their coaches.

Harrow-Balmoral will retain playing coach Nick Pekin for the 2020 season.

Pekin has enhanced his reputation as one of the best players in the region since crossing to the Roos in 2017, coaching the side to a premiership and winning the District league’s Dellar Medal last year.

The Roos have put the finishing touches on an undefeated home and away campaign this year, with Pekin again in the thick of the action.

Rupanyup’s Jack Musgrove is another to recommit to his position, signing on for a third year with the Panthers in 2020.

While Rupanyup found itself well back in the finals race in an injury-plagued year, the team showed it could mix it with upper-echelon sides in wins against Swifts and Jeparit-Rainbow and a competitive performance against Edenhope-Apsley.

A third Horsham District coach already locked up for next year is Noradjuha-Quantong’s Gareth Hose, who signed a two-year extension before the start of this season.

Hose has led a rejuvenation of the Bombers’ list, blooding several young players and guiding the team to its first finals berth since 2011.

Wimmera league team Nhill will be hoping new coach Jaye Macumber can have a similar effect when he takes the reins next season.

Macumber is highly respected as a coach, having guided Minyip-Murtoa to a grand final berth in 2016 and served as a development coach for the Western Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy.

Macumber will take over from Tim Bone, who has helmed the Tigers for the past two seasons.

Pimpinio will also be led by a fresh face, with Chris Walsh inheriting the top job from Liam Jakobi.

Jakobi will continue as a player and assistant coach but will be able to focus more on his playing commitments.

Both Nhill and Pimpinio will be hoping Macumber and Walsh can lead them to finals in their respective leagues after many years on the outside looking in.

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