“I enjoyed being out there. It’s a great family club,” he said yesterday.

“I love the supporters and the bunch of blokes out there are great.”

Chatfield, 28, has replaced Jeremy Gleeson at the helm of the Eagles for season 2014, the latest chapter of his extensive football story.

The onballer/small forward played juniors at Northern Districts before joining Warrnambool in his under 18 year, staying on to make his senior debut.

A shift to Russells Creek followed in 2003. There he played seven of the next 10 years and won two premierships. His football resume also includes stints at Dennington in 2006-07 and East Warrnambool in 2009.

Chatfield joined Hawkesdale-Macarthur as an assistant coach in 2013, helping the club reach the Mininera and District league elimination final.

The father of two is confident the Eagles can again play finals in 2014.

“We finished fifth this year and we want to try and better that, keep the main group together and get a couple more guys,” he said.

“Your top six or seven sides (in the MDFL) are really competitive. 

“It was pretty close this year.

“The standard of footy — it’s still good footy, you’ve still got decent players in the league.”

Chatfield said the Eagles’ defence was their strength during 2013, although he would welcome another key backman at the club.

He was also keen to lure more onballers and a key forward to the combine. 

“Every team needs a forward,” he said.