Lavars, who captained Geelong Amateurs in this season’s grand final, has replaced former coach Shane Skontra, who led the BFNL Magpies for the past two seasons.

Skontra has since taken over the reins of Ballarat league club North City.

Lavars, who is a teacher, will relocate to Maryborough in December or January with wife Taylar and 14-month-old son Lucky, and will seek work at schools in the district.

His appointment as playing coach is his first and will be for two years.

Lavars previously played two seasons with Werribee in the VFL and six with St Mary’s in the Geelong Football League, where he won the Mathieson Medal as the league’s best and fairest in 2010.

He was selected on a half back flank in this season’s AFL Barwon Bellarine Football League team of the year and has played 150 games for Geelong Amateurs.

Maryborough Football Netball Club president Brendan Roughead said Lavars brought with him a wealth of playing and finals experience, having played in four premierships with Geelong Amateurs and one at St Mary’s.

“The club is very excited to get a coach with the qualities of Ben to lead our senior team,” he said.

“Ben has an impressive and successful football record and is of great character and will continue to build a positive club environment at Maryborough.

“The role at Maryborough will be Ben’s first coaching appointment, however Ben is familiar with the leadership required to achieve success in football.”

Lavars has captained Geelong Amateurs for the past three seasons.

In that time the Ammos have played in three grand finals for two premierships.

Lavars played six seasons with St Mary’s in the GFL and was best on ground in the Saints’ 2008 premiership win.

He is a three-time Geelong inter-league representative and was selected in the Victoria Country seconds team in 2016-16.

Lavars said he was excited at the challenge of taking the senior coaching role at Maryborough.

“I see coaching as the next step in

my football journey and look forward to working with a young playing list to build a successful club” he said.

MORE TO COME