Portarlington appoints new coach Darren Findlay on three-year deal

The improving Portarlington has revealed its new coach and he is no stranger to the BFNL. Darren Findlay opens up on his return to coaching and his plans to help the Dees rise up the ladder.

Darren Findlay has signed on as Portarlington as coach until the end of 2027. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Portarlington new senior coach Darren Findlay isn’t focused on the club’s past record, instead intent on what can be built over the next three seasons.

The former VFL player and coach will lead the BFNL club in 2025, with the 55-year-old committing to the job with a three-year deal.

Portarlington saw marked improvement in its 150th year, ending its 68-game losing streak with a round one win over Newcomb and winning another two games for the season under Warren Finlayson to finish in ninth position.

Findlay was confident there was more on-field success in the Dees’ future but warned patience would be required.

“It’s one step at a time,” Findlay said.

“We know what we want to do and it will take a lot of hard work.

“We’re looking for improvement and getting the guys believing in themselves that they can win games of footy, that’s probably the most important thing.

“The win-loss record will take care of itself. To be quite honest, I don’t really care what happened in the past, I don’t worry about that, I’m just looking forward to what will happen in the next three years.

“We’ll be a competitive unit, we expect to improve right across the board as a senior group and as a club. That’s our main mantra.”

Portarlington captain Mitchell Turnbull leads players out onto the field earlier this year. Picture: Mark Wilson

As a player, Findlay joined North Melbourne in the state league level at 15 — his grandfather a past player at the Roos in the 1930s and 40s — before also lining up at Footscray.

A journeyman from there on out, the 55-year-old won’t enter the Bellarine league blind, having played in Anglesea’s 1991 premiership before taking on an assistant playing coaching role at Barwon Heads in 1999.

“That was at the back-end of my career when I could hardly walk,” he said with a laugh.

The operations manager has coached Werribee’s VFL reserves side, before leading Western Region Football League club Point Cook Centrals to its maiden senior football premiership in 2018. He stepped down at the end of 2021 after five years in charge to spend time with family and support son Tarkyn’s school football commitments at Carey Grammar.

However it was a conversation with a Portarlington senior player at a recent Hoppers Crossing past player day which set Findlay’s coaching return in motion.

“I got a bit enthusiastic, and then (Dees president) Steve (Cogger) and Geoff Miles rang me and had a bit of a chat,” Findlay said.

“Then I went and watched them play a game and got pretty interested.

“I like the passion of the club and what they want to do, the direction they want to take it, that’s what really stood out to me.

“They are really hungry for success, I must admit, they’re all very enthusiastic which is fantastic and I’m on that march as well.”

Findlay said he’d aim to foster an enjoyable environment for both players and the wider club community, with his focus on executing an offensive style of football.

“Try and score as quick as we can, keep the scoreboard ticking over... and outscore the opposition, more an offensive style,” he said.

Nathan Storer, already part of Portarlington’s coaching staff, has been appointed as Findlay’s senior assistant coach for two years, with club hopeful of retaining its 2024 playing list before looking to strengthen its list through recruitment.

Cogger said the club was excited to have Findlay lead the Demons in 2025, adding his expertise and background would benefit the Demons’ quest for sustainable success in the BFNL.

“He brings a success rate with him... he’s played in premierships, coached premiership and assisted in premierships,” Cogger said.

“We’re hoping he will drive that (culture of success) and we’ll learn off that and grow off it.”

Originally published as Portarlington appoints new coach Darren Findlay on three-year deal