Adelaide Footy League division one coach Simon Maddern to step down from Port District Football Club

A division one Adelaide Footy League coach has revealed why he will step away after four years at the helm of the club.

Port District coach Simon Maddern’s fourth year in charge of the division one club will be his last with the club great to step down following the Magpies’ final game of the season.

Maddern made the decision earlier this year before he helped secure Port’s status in the Adelaide Footy League’s top flight for 2022 on Saturday.

He said it was a was a privilege to coach the club, which he captained to the 2007 division two premiership.

Port District coach Simon Maddern will not coach on at the Magpies. Picture: AAP/Mark Brake

“Coaching is pretty exhausting, I feel like I’ve put a lot of energy into it and it’s gotten to the point where I need to put more time and energy back into family and work,” Maddern said.

“Added to that I feel like it’s the right time for the club to have someone different as well.

“I’ve had four years in the job and we’ve been competitive but I haven’t got the group to where I’ve wanted to.

“I think a fresh face will be a good thing for the club.”

Port District’s 11-point round 17 win over Brighton meant it would avoid relegation.

Maddern will now be able to sign off in front of a home crowd when the Magpies take on St Peter’s Old Collegians at Largs Reserve this Saturday.

Co-captain Simon Maddern (left) pictured with coach Roger Delaney, Troy Jamieson, Co-captain Alfred Steed after winning the 2007 division two flag for Port District. Picture: Neale Winter

The Magpies have finished between fifth and seventh in each season during his tenure.

“We’ve had a pretty decent stint in div one now, going into our ninth year in a row I think, and we’ve been middle of the road in all those years,” Maddern said.

“That’s a frustration but it’s something to proud of in some ways.

“We want to be pushing higher than that towards the top three moving forward as a club.”

Despite not achieving the success he set out to at District, Maddern said he learnt there was more to the job than he first realised.

“It’s been awesome, I’ve loved it,” he said.

“When I started coaching I really only had one goal in mind and that was to win a premiership.

“As I’ve gone through the four years I’ve realised coaching is not just that.

Simon Maddern addresses his players during Saturday’s win over Brighton. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“If that was the result you would obviously be rapt with it, but there’s so much more to coaching and success isn’t only measured on winning a premiership.”

He said he would continue to fill roles at the Magpies where needed in the future after he takes a break.

Port District president Craig Brown praised Maddern’s commitment to the club and said it was the right time for both parties.

“Simon’s put a lot of time into the club for a lot of years now,” Brown said.

“I’m sure he’ll come back in some capacity down the track.

“Simon’s really created a fantastic legacy for someone to take over in that the playing numbers are really strong, the ethics and morale around the football department are really high, so there’s a lot of positives for someone to take over.”

Brown said the club had informally started the process of searching for its next coach.