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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