EFNL 2024: All the latest coaching moves ahead of 2025

Some are in and some are out. Keep up with all the latest moves here ...

Montrose coach Gary Ayres has re-signed at the Division 1 club. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Some are in, while some are out – the coaching merry-go-round is in full swing in the Eastern league.

Keep up with all the latest moves here ...

PREMIER DIVISION

BERWICK

Latest ...

Fresh from a year off coaching, former AFL man Andrew Williams “can’t wait to get into it” after landing at Eastern Premier club Berwick as its new mentor.

MORE: ‘In my wheelhouse’: Ex-Eagle, Pie up for Berwick challenge

Earlier ...

Senior coach of five years Clint Evans has confirmed he’ll be stepping down from his post at the end of the Eastern league Premier Division season.

Evans said he made a decision on his future after an initial chat with the club a month ago.

“With where the club’s at, they need someone to come in to try and reinvigorate the list, because we’re so young,” Evans said.

MORE: Berwick coach calls time

DONCASTER EAST

Ryan James will steer the Lions for a fourth season, after signing until the end of 2025 last year.

The former Mulgrave mentor joined the club at the end of 2021, lifting it to a preliminary final in 2023.

EAST RINGWOOD

Ben Osborne was last year locked in until the end of 2025.

The Roos’ mentor led the club to its first senior premiership in two decades in 2022 – earning promotion from the second tier into the league’s top division, with the club featuring in finals last year.

Osborne landed the role in September 2019, with last year’s contract extension sending the South Croydon premiership hero into a sixth year at the helm.

MITCHAM

Neil Winterton has committed to a 10th year at the helm.

He’s the club’s longest-serving coach, leading it to flags in 2015, 2019, 2023 and ‘24, with the latest triumph returning the Tigers to Premier Division for the first time since 2006.

NOBLE PARK

Steve Hughes is on board for 2025, the club recently confirmed.

Hughes will coach for a sixth year after leading the Bulls to the 2022 premiership.

ROWVILLE

Premiership coach Ben Wise has been reappointed for 2025.

Wise led the club to grand finals in 2022 and ‘23, winning its first top-division flag last year.

SOUTH CROYDON

Brendan Allen has recommitted for a second season in charge at the Bulldogs. The former Blackburn coach has never missed the finals during his time in the Eastern league.

VERMONT

Latest ...

Matt Adolph has been appointed coach of Eastern league powerhouse Vermont, following the resignation of Adam Parker after four years at the helm.Serving as senior assistant across the past two seasons, Adolph spent seven years in the VFL system from 2012 to 2019.

Earlier ...

Adam Parker has stepped down after four years at the helm – but an announcement on his replacement is imminent.

Parker, who played in two flags at the club, led the Eagles to the 2023 grand final.

“Adam informed the senior playing group after (September 1’s) elimination final loss, saying that he had made his decision around two months ago,” the club said, adding Parker cited family reasons for his departure.

DIVISION 1

BAYSWATER

Latest ...

Luke Harris has been appointed to the Waters’ top job.

“Luke stood out as a clear leader to take the club forward with professionalism, discipline, clear structures and game plan,” the club said in a statement.

“Luke brings exceptional experience with several roles including St Kilda FC Academy coaching and most recently as a senior assistant at Frankston Bombers Football Club.

“His passion, expertise, and vision align perfectly with the club’s values and ambitions. He aims to inspire players to reach their full potential, promote a strong team culture, and drive the club towards on-field success.”

Earlier ...

Rival clubs have circled outgoing Bayswater mentor Marc Hardy, but the four-time premiership champion says he’ll step back from coaching after parting ways with the Eastern Division 1 outfit.

Bayswater last week confirmed the split, advertising its senior coaching position with one home-and-away match remaining.

“The club has made the difficult decision to search for a new senior coaching team for season 2025 and beyond,” the club said in a statement.

Hardy, who returned to the helm at the end of 2022 after coaching the club to the 2005 flag, said he wanted to lead the club next season but declined to reapply for the role.

MORE: Eastern league great opens up on Bayswater exit

BEACONSFIELD

Dual Eastern league premiership coach Mick Fogarty will lead Beacy again in 2025.

Fogarty coached the Eagles into a maiden finals campaign last season, with the club bound for September again.

BORONIA

Triple Hawks premiership coach Matt Clark is in for 2025 as the club takes on Division 1 following back-to-back flags in Division 2.

MONTROSE

Five-time Hawthorn premiership great and former Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres will continue at Montrose, after arriving in 2022.

With the Port Melbourne VFL coaching job in the news, it's worth noting that the great Gary Ayres, who led the Borough to the 2011 and '17 flags, has been reappointed at Montrose. He joined the Demons in 2022 and he's going on for two more years.

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) July 24, 2024

MOOROOLBARK

Ben Wheat replaces Bret Lavars as senior coach after six years in charge.

NORTH RINGWOOD

Latest ...

Eastern league legend Matt Price has returned to coaching.

The former Coldstream champion will steer North Ringwood next season following Robbie Nahas’ resignation.

Price, who won six senior Eastern league best and fairest medals – earning official legend status after his third – is fresh from a year off coaching, following a four-year stint at Dromana.

MORE: Saints snare Eastern league legend

Earlier ...

Robbie Nahas wants to keep playing for as long as possible – but the 36-year-old declares that must come at the cost of his North Ringwood coaching job.

The ex-AFL Tiger and Roo has called time on his playing-coach stint at the Eastern league Division 1 club, confirming he will step down at season’s end after landing the gig in 2019.

“I think our club is ready for a non-playing coach, and I’m still in a state of mind where I still want to play as much footy as I can until I can’t really walk,” Nahas said.

MORE: Why Nahas called time at North Ringwood

NORWOOD

The club has confirmed current coach Brett Moyle has been locked in for next year. It was relegated from Premier Division at the end of 2024.

SOUTH BELGRAVE

Latest ...

The Eastern Division 1 club has turned up an ace in its late hunt for a senior coach, unveiling flag-winning mentor and state league assistant, Kristan Height.

MORE: South Belgrave secures premiership coach, VFL assistant

Earlier ...

South Belgrave must find a new senior coach following the shock exit of Heath Black.

The Eastern league Division 1 club had been tight-lipped about the former AFL Saint and Docker’s recent split, which is understood to have happened in late September after the coach of one season tendered his resignation.

He had a year to run on his contract.

MORE: South Belgrave confirms coaching bombshell

DIVISION 2

Latest ...

EAST BURWOOD

Latest ...

East Burwood has turned to its captain as its next senior coach.

The Eastern league Division 2 club has unveiled ruckman and centre half-back Kyle Dove to replace outgoing mentor Justin Whitcher, who was sacked after just one season in charge.

MORE: East Burwood unveils new coach

Earlier ...

East Burwood is on the hunt for a fourth senior coach in as many years after splitting with mentor Justin Whitcher.

A two-time premiership player with the Rams in the league’s top division in 1999 and 2000, Whitcher was sacked ahead of the last home-and-away round, but coached out the season.

MORE: ‘Lack of respect’: Axed coach spills on shock East Burwood exit

HEATHMONT

Scott Hamill will steer the Jets for a third season. He led the club to a grand final in his first year in charge in 2023.

LILYDALE

Latest ...

Duncan Jones has been unveiled as Lilydale’s new mentor, replacing Luke McCormick who recently stood down after a three-and-a-half-year stint.

Jones, who played football with Vermont, Heathmont and Sandringham, coached the Whitehorse Pioneers from 2021 to 2022 before assistant-coaching stops at Park Orchards and Oakleigh Chargers.

He served as head of development at VFL club Williamstown this year.

Earlier ...

Luke McCormick has stepped down after a three-and-a-half-year stint, the club has announced.

“After a hugely enjoyable three-year journey as senior coach, it’s very hard to make the call to finish up,” McCormick said.

“Through a club-first (and) team-first mentality, we have worked very hard on and off the track and are ready for a new senior coach to come in and drive the next stage of our progression.”

MULGRAVE

Matt Richards is in for a third year.

The club great has made two consecutive finals campaigns in his time in charge after taking over at the end of 2022.

RINGWOOD

A seventh season in charge awaits two-time coach of the year Brett Rowe, who led the Redbacks to three consecutive grand finals from 2019 to ‘22.

THE BASIN

Joel Perry has been appointed to the senior post after taking on the caretaker role earlier this season, following the sacking of Jason Wade.

WANTIRNA SOUTH

Club great Jason Heffernan has been locked in to lead the Devils again after a maiden season in 2024.

WAVERLEY BLUES

Latest ...

Sam Bates has taken the helm following an extensive coaching apprenticeship which took him to Vermont, Heathmont and Wantirna South in assistant roles.

Bates played more than 300 Eastern league matches and is a Wantirna South premiership player.

MORE: Opportunity knocks for long-time Eastern assistant

Earlier ...

Scott Savage exited the role at season’s end after just one year in charge.

DIVISION 3

COLDSTREAM

Latest ...

A successor has been found close to home.

Coldstream has unveiled its next coach, with senior assistant Matt Johnson stepping up following the resignation of Jarrod Bayliss after a season at the helm.

MORE: Coldstream unveils new coach

Earlier ...

Triple premiership coach Jarrod Bayliss will step down at the end of the Eastern Division 3 season after a year in charge, citing work and family reasons.

MORE: Coldstream coach steps down

DONVALE

The curtain has fallen on one of the Eastern league’s most decorated senior coaching careers.

Donvale stalwart Kevin Collins has called time at the Division 3 power, bringing an end to a triple-premiership-winning partnership stretching two stints decades apart.

But as one club great departs the post, another arrives, with Collins’ 2024 assistant and former captain in the 1990s, Tony Weeks, taking on the top job.

MORE: Local footy coaching great calls time

FAIRPARK

Latest ...

Josh Allison has been appointed the Lions’ new coach.

The 35-year-old featured in South Croydon’s top division flag in 2017 before a four-year stop at East Ringwood, joining Fairpark as a playing-assistant at the start of 2023.

The club said: “We believe Josh has the professional and personal experience and characteristics required to guide our playing list.

“We are excited to have someone of his calibre leading our men’s program moving forward.

“We were in a fortunate position where we had a number of strong candidates apply for the position, with Josh possessing the attributes and vision we believe will help us make continued progress as a club.

“Joshua has a firm vision, with valued experience at several premier clubs and across many EFNL divisions.

“He is ready to embrace the opportunity of being our senior coach.”

Earlier ...

The curtain has fallen on the tenure of Fairpark’s longest-serving coach.

Sean Stanton stepped away at season’s end after eight years at the helm of the Eastern league club he led to a drought-breaking premiership in 2019.

Arriving at the Lions at the end of 2016, he declared the time was right for a fresh voice.

“I felt the best thing for the club was to get a fresh voice in, a new coach with new ideas who hopefully can recruit three or four top-end talents,” Stanton said.

MORE: Lions’ long-serving flag coach calls it a day

FERNTREE GULLY

Latest ...

Eastern league stalwart Patty Garrity has won the Eagles’ top job, after serving as Rowville’s under-19 coach across the past two seasons.

Earlier ...

Ferntree Gully senior coach Brent Kiker stepped down from his post of five years at the end of the season.

Appointed at the end of 2019 following two years as an assistant, Kiker, whose first two seasons in charge were wiped due to Covid, declared “the time is right for me to move on”.

MORE: Ferntree Gully coach calls time

OAKLEIGH DISTRICT

Dual Chandler medallist Blake Pearson will coach the club again in 2025.

The club recently confirmed the former Port Melbourne VFL star had committed to a third year in charge.

Pearson was installed as Oaks coach following the 2022 season, after a long playing stint at Premier Division outfit Norwood.

He led the Oaks to a breakthrough finals series last year – and their first finals win since 2016 on the way to a prelim.

“I’m incredibly excited to have signed on as coach for season 2025,” Pearson said in a statement.

“A lot of hard work has been put in over the last two years to get both the senior and development sides into positions where the expectation is to win each game we play.

“The foundations have now been laid, and we are looking to continue our focus of continual improvement as we look to build towards our next premiership.”

SCORESBY

Craig McKenzie will oversee a third season in charge at the Magpies after taking over ahead of the 2023 season.

UPPER FERNTREE GULLY

Latest ...

The time was right and Upper Ferntree Gully aligned.

Kris Fletcher will steer the Kings next season following his appointment as the Eastern Division 3 club’s senior coach.

MORE: How incoming coach plans to lift Upper Gully

Earlier ...

The club confirmed Fisher’s shock exit, declaring the “choice was not made lightly but took into account a range of considerations”.

Former player and defensive line coach Liam Gellie stepped into the caretaker role for the rest of the season.

Upper Ferntree Gully president Craig Bridle told this masthead the committee met and determined a “change of direction” was needed.

MORE: Inside Upper Gully’s ‘shock’ coaching split

DIVISION 4

CHIRNSIDE PARK

Latest ...

Livewire premiership forward Justin Ficorilli has been appointed as the club’s playing-coach.

Ficorilli, who won a flag at Silvan in 2022, arrived at the Panthers in ‘23 as an assistant and has kicked more than 500 career goals.

Earlier ...

Dave Newlands’ time is up after finishing up at the end of the Panthers’ finals campaign.

MORE: Chirnside Park coach calls it a day

CROYDON NORTH-MLOC

Ben Oakes has re-signed at the Kanga-Rams, taking him into a third season at the helm.

FOREST HILL

Stuart Pierce has been appointed the club’s new coach, crossing from Doveton where he coached the reserves to a preliminary final this season. He’s also coached at Berwick Springs, Emerald and Doveton across the past 15 seasons.

Earlier ...

Forest Hill has joined a swag of Eastern league clubs on the hunt for a senior coach.

Zebras president John Andrews said first-year mentor Brad Tuite had decided not to reapply for the role following the Division 4 club’s call to advertise the position.

MORE: Forest Hill joins Eastern coaching hunt

KILSYTH

Damian Murray has replaced Simon Caldwell as coach of the Cougars and will serve in a playing-capacity next season.

Caldwell returned for a second stint at the helm in 2020 and led the club to a grand final in 2023.

NUNAWADING

Frank Salinitri has stepped down after two seasons in charge, it was revealed in November.

He has declined to comment, but has taken up a role as football operations manager at Division 4 rival, Croydon North-MLOC.

Nunawading has also been contacted for comment.

WARRANDYTE

Paul Donahoo is in for a fifth season at the helm, the club has confirmed.

The Bloods were relegated from Division 3 at the end of 2024, but Donahoo and his charges are hard at work as they prepare to take on Division 4 in ‘25.