EFL 2019: Neil Winterton re-signs with Mitcham for 2020

Mitcham coach Neil Winterton will remain at the club for a sixth season after the Tigers voted and approved for the playing mentor to continue into 2020.

Mitcham coach Neil Winterton. Picture: James Ross/AAP

Mitcham mentor Neil Winterton will become the club’s longest serving coach after re-signing for a sixth season.

The Tigers’ committee voted and approved Winterton’s tenure extend into 2020 on Tuesday night.

The veteran will also continue as playing coach.

Mitcham president Matt McCubbin said the club did not hesitate in re-signing Winterton.

“The feedback from the playing group was all positive as well,” McCubbin said.

“We didn’t see the need to change.”

Mitcham will make a return to finals for the first time since 2015 when it meets Heathmont in the EFL Division 2 elimination final at East Burwood Reserve on Sunday.

The Tigers were relegated from the second tier last year and finished the home-and-away season with a 12-6 record.

Mitcham celebrate its 2015 premiership. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Winterton took Mitcham to a premiership in his first season at the club when it won the third-tier flag.

He arrived at the Tigers after a three-year coaching stint at Bayswater.

He played more than 150 games at Frankston in the VFL and won Mulgrave’s best and fairest in the Lions’ 2010 premiership.

McCubbin said the club had met its expectations this season.

“The previous years we have probably done a full club review with the players,” he said.

“Based on the feedback we had from our leadership group this year, there had been no issues with the coaching staff.

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“We spoke to the key players to get their feedback and speaking to the coaching staff separately, right through from the 19s to the senior group, they’re all on the same page.

“What that shows is having three sides playing finals all based on the same game plan and same coaching philosophy, they’ve all been tight and working well together.

“Not once this year have I had any concern on any of the coaches and I think that makes it a lot easier when it gets to this time of season and making those decisions.”

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