Carey joins Tom Cartledge at the helm after he signed as coach earlier last month.

The pair have previously played together at the Bushrangers and will be reunited for the first time since the end of 2018.

Carey has coached Cudgewa for the past three years.

While Cartledge is a former skipper of the Bushrangers who didn't play this season after relocating to Darwin.

Carey said the opportunity to coach his home club was simply too hard to ignore.

"It was disappointing not to be able to finish the season at Cudgewa but I'm looking forward to the next challenge," Carey said.

"The opportunity to coach my home club is something that I'm passionate about.

"I had a great time at Cudgewa and gained some coaching experience albeit at a lower level.

"But to be able to continue coaching at my home club alongside Tom who has been a great mate for 25 years - it was a no brainer to be honest."

Carey boasts a near perfect coaching record at Cudgewa.

The Blues lost the opening round in Carey's first season in charge in 2019 but went into the grand final on a 15 match winning streak.

However, the rookie coach was denied a flag after Bullioh scored an upset win in the grand final.

The Blues were a raging favourite to make amends this season and were minor premiers with a 9-0 record when the season was abandoned last month.

Carey has no doubts the coaching experience will hold him in good stead.

"Having a successful side to coach in the Upper Murray probably made my job a lot easier but it's still good to get the experience," he said.

"Just building relationships with players and being a people person which is a big part of coaching.

"I know the Tallangatta league is of a lot higher standard but I've obviously played in the competition for a long time and know what's required.

"I've got confidence in my coaching ability and being able to co-coach alongside Tom is just going to make it a lot easier on both of us."

ALSO IN SPORT

Carey, 33, has played 197 matches with Beechworth and 40 with Wangaratta Rovers as well as having a stint in Western Australia for two years.

He played in the Ovens and Murray club's second semi-final loss to Yarrawonga at Norm Minns Oval when star recruit Barry Hall missed a shot after the siren.

Carey felt he still had a lot to offer as a player.

"Obviously I'd be proud to tick off that 200-match milestone with Beechworth for a start," he said.

"The body is feeling capable but I'm not too sure how many more matches I've got in me.

"But I'm definitely heading into next season with the goal of being a playing coach."

Carey and Cartledge have been lifelong mates after growing up in Beechworth.

"Tom and I grew up in Beechworth together and also did our plumbing apprenticeship together," he said.

"We worked together for five or six years.

"No doubt we will still have our fair share of heated arguments when under pressure.

"But we are both passionate about rebuilding the club and climbing back up the ladder."

Carey said attracting young, home grown talent would be the recruiting priority.

"There are about a dozen former juniors playing at different O&M clubs who we have identified as being on the recruiting radar," he said.

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