EDFL 2018: Strathmore coach Nathan Grima to step down at end of Premier Division season

The list of EDFL Premier Division clubs searching for a new coach continues to grow, with a top-four club the latest looking for a mentor for 2019.

NATHAN Grima is the latest Essendon District Football League Premier Division coach to quit the top job and could lead Strathmore for the last time on Sunday.

The Mores are set to advertise all coaching positions, with president John Elliott confirming Grima would not be reapplying for the role.

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It is believed a move interstate is behind Grima’s decision.

The former North Melbourne and Essendon defender has steered the club to consecutive finals appearances after taking charge last year.

Strathmore will meet Greenvale in an elimination final at Windy Hill this weekend after finishing the home-and-away rounds in third position.

“I think he’s developing every year,” Elliott said of Grima.

“But one door closes, another one opens.

“I believe we’ll probably get a good response to our ads. We’ve also got some people who have worked with Nathan this year I would hope would be interested in the job.”

Nathan Grima tries to get a kick away for Strathmore. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Mores had a 2-3 start to the season but have won 11 of their past 13 matches to be in premiership contention.

While they missed the double chance after a final-round loss to reigning premier Aberfeldie, the flag race is wide open in the top flight.

Elliott lamented the fact Strathmore had injuries “at the wrong time of year”, with Luke Jarrad, Andrew Vavra and Tyson Mitchem missing games in recent weeks, while Ben Bese snapped two ligaments in his ankle in the defeat to Abers.

“Three weeks ago, I was on top of the moon,” Elliott said.

“We’ve got three or four bad injuries now. Three weeks ago we didn’t have an injury and I honestly thought we would be the side to beat.

“Now I just want to get through Sunday.”

Luke Jarrad is one of Strathmore’s stars. Picture: Josie Hayden

The Mores will lose Grima as a player, while Nick Lower has not played since June and has retired.

There is also a question mark over the future of Hamish McIntosh, who has been limited to nine games this year.

Elliott said Strathmore’s future was bright.

“We’ve got a lot of good, young players coming through, and we won’t probably lose much at the end of the year,” he said.

“Besides (Adam) Iaccobucci, Andrew Horne and Luke Jarrad, we haven’t got a player over 27.

“Whoever takes over has got a really good list with youth.

“Probably we will have to recruit a couple of talls, which everyone has to anyway.”

Dean Wallis will not continue as coach at Essendon Doutta Stars in 2019, while Robbie Castello has resigned as Maribyrnong Park’s mentor.

Uncertainty surrounds Donald McDonald’s future at Avondale Heights, while Pascoe Vale is conducting a review of its coaching set up after missing the finals by a game.

Digby Morrell will not continue in the top job at West Coburg, which was relegated to Division 1.

Keilor and Aberfeldie will lock horns in Saturday’s major semi-final, with the winner earning a direct passage through to the decider.