Luke Beattie reveals he will step down as Kyneton coach at the end of the Bendigo league season

Kyneton coach Luke Beattie will hand over the coaching reins at the end of the season to spend more time with his family, revealing his best memories after four years in the top job.

Kyneton coach Luke Beattie is stepping down.

Long-time Kyneton coach Luke Beattie has revealed he will step down at the end of the BFNL season.

After four years in the top job, the Tigers great will hand over the reins to spend more time with his young family.

Beattie took the top job with four games remaining in the 2015 home-and-away campaign and has been a key figure as the club battled financial issues since returning from recess in 2014.

The 41-year-old came out of retirement this year to help Kyneton on-field and wasn’t paid as coach to help it off-field.

“I’ve got four young kids and (coaching) is an extremely time-consuming role if you want to do it in a manner that is respectful to those that you have the privilege to coach,” he said.

Kyneton coach Luke Beattie. Picture: Richard Serong

“It’s been a fantastic opportunity to represent the community and a great group of players.

“I think the opportunity is fantastic for someone to come in now and take the club into the next era and hopefully some success.”

Beattie rated the Bryce Hinneberg kick after the siren to beat Sandhurst in 2016 and the five-point win over South Bendigo in Round 6 this year as the fondest memories from his tenure.

“I remember going off and I’d lost my voice from yelling … the feeling in the rooms, it certainly matched a premiership-type scenario,” he said of the victory over Sandhurst.

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In the triumph over South Bendigo, Beattie wound back the clock with a match-winning six goals.

But the Kyneton junior hoped rebuilding the club’s playing stocks this season would be one of his lasting legacies.

Kyneton finished fifth in 2016 and 2017 and third in 2018 but weren’t able to win a final.

With spiralling debts, the Tigers focused on developing youth this season and have posted three wins.

Luke Beattie during his playing days at Kyneton.

“I think one of the best things about the transition from last season to this season, will be leaving the club with a really strong group of players,” he said.

“Players that are 100 per cent committed, led by the leadership group — Rhys Magin, Josh Govan, Hamish Govan and Harrison Huntley.

“After the events of previous seasons, every player is there for the right reasons.”

Kyneton president Karen O’Sullivan said Beattie had been an amazing leader when the club needed him most.

“He came in at a time when the club needed a strong local identity,” she said.

“We understand he’s got a heavy workload with four young kids and he’s a busy man, so we’re very grateful for the time and the work he’s done.

“During a time of financial unrest and instability he has been incredible selfless. Some might not know but this year he hasn’t been paid as coach.”

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