EDFL 2018: Northern Saints coach Paul Dunn sacked after one season

INTRIGUE surrounds the axing of Northern Saints coach Paul Dunn after just one season at the helm.

Paul Dunn has been sacked after one season in charge. Picture: Hamish Blair

INTRIGUE surrounds the sacking of Northern Saints coach Paul Dunn after just one season at the helm.

There has been uncertainty over Dunn’s future since August as he remained unsigned despite leading the Essendon District Football League Division 2 club to the minor premiership.

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The Saints pulled the trigger on Tuesday afternoon, leaving Dunn with little time to find his next job.

While they had a calamitous finals campaign and were eliminated in straight sets following heavy losses to eventual grand finalists Roxburgh Park (61 points) and East Sunbury (71 points), Dunn steered them to 13 wins from 20 games in a credible first season in charge.

Paul Dunn has been sacked after one season in charge. Picture: Hamish Blair

When contacted by Leader on Wednesday morning, Dunn politely declined to comment further and said “I’m just going to let it go”.

But it is understood he is privately fuming after being told he was not the right person to take Northern Saints forward.

Dunn has had doubts about his security in the top job for some time despite the strong results on field and expressed his desire to know his future sooner rather than later to allow him to apply for jobs elsewhere.

With applications for most coaching roles now closed, he has been left in a difficult position.

Those close to the situation concede it has been handled poorly.

One described the treatment of Dunn, who spent four seasons in the VFL system with Coburg and Essendon before arriving at Charles Mutton Reserve, as “extremely unprofessional”.

Dunn and his team coached for free this year, attracted sponsors and also paid some players’ membership fees.

Speaking last month, Dunn said off-field instability hampered the Saints’ finals campaign.

“It was always a challenge, the whole year,” he said.

“If you look where we started off to where we finished as minor premiers, it just showed the resilience of the group.

“I do think that the off-field disorganisation filtered through the club and finally into the football department.

“We achieved a lot with no support. Imagine what could be achieved if we had the support.”

The Saints will hold their AGM on Monday, where a new-look committee is set to be installed.

President Geoff English, who will be replaced, has not responded to requests for comment.

Joe Antonetti, who is poised to take over, declined to comment.