DUAL premiership-winning Milawa ruckman Brent Newton will coach Chiltern next season.
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Newton, who was club champion for the Demons in 2015, takes over from Mark Doolan, who announced he would not continue in the top job late in the season.
In what will be his first coaching job Newton, 27, said he was excited to see what Chiltern's young list could produce.
“It should be a great new experience, I'm looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
“There's some great people around the club who will be able to help me.
“I've been lucky enough to do a fair few things as a player, so I decided to have a go at coaching.
We'll try and stabilise that core group, and if I can add some bigger bodies and experience around them their development will only happen faster.
- Brent Newton
“The Swans have put their faith in me, and I'll happily give it a go.”
While it's too early for the Ovens and King veteran to make any bold predictions, Newton said there was plenty of upside for the Swans.
“I definitely see a lot of potential in them, they just need a bit of guidance,” he said.
“We'll try and stabilise that core group, and if I can add some bigger bodies and experience around them their development will only happen faster.”
After impressing in 2015, making it to the preliminary final, the Swans struggled in 2016.
They won just five games, tumbling to a 10th-place finish.
Chiltern football manager Josh Kleine said Newton, who boasts extensive Ovens and King, Ovens and Murray and VFL experience, was the perfect fit for the club.
“Brent really stood out among the applicants we spoke to,” he said.
“He can be dominant as a ruckman and at centre half-forward, and he's at the right age where he's got five or six good years of footy to play yet.
“The age profile really fits the players we have at the club, he's going to be able to come in and work with those younger players and pass on some knowledge.
“We'd been hunting for a strong ruckman, so it's a huge bonus for us that he can fill that role on our list.”
Locking up the young list is a priority Kleine said, before adding some experienced players.
“We're hoping to take a few steps forward next year, Brent prides himself on success,” he said.
“Adding experience in the midfield will go a long way to helping us out.”