EFNL Division 2: Templestowe, Anthony McGregor part ways in coaching bombshell

Templestowe has parted ways with coach Anthony McGregor just four weeks out from the Eastern league finals. Both sides break their silence.

TEMPLESTOWE has parted ways with senior coach Anthony McGregor just weeks out from the finals in a shock development in the Eastern league’s Division 2.

The Dockers’ mentor stepped down last Thursday night ahead of the club’s Round 15 match against Boronia – with midfielder Nick Batsanis stepping into a playing-coaching role.

Templestowe president Russell Smith said McGregor had opted not to coach out the season after being informed his job “wasn’t guaranteed for next year”, with the club exploring its options.

Smith added there was “nothing personal about it”.

Anthony McGregor. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“Basically, we spoke to ‘Mac’ on Tuesday last week and just had a chat that we might be looking at other options next year – it was more along the lines that his job wasn’t guaranteed for next year,” Smith said.

“It wasn’t that we definitely weren’t going with him, but we would be looking at other options, but his job was guaranteed for the remainder of the year.

“On the back of that, ‘Mac’ went to the leadership group on Tuesday night … (and said) ‘This is what I’m led to believe, if you guys want me to finish up now I will, but if you guys want me to coach out the year, I will.’

“The leadership group said yes (to coaching out the year) … at that point that was our understanding.

“I had a good chat to ‘Mac’ on the Wednesday and then on the Thursday we had a (planned) committee meeting and he joined us and said the situation in his eyes was untenable, and he’d be finishing up tonight.”

Templestowe sits third ahead of a finals campaign, and McGregor said he was “gutted” by the timing of the club’s discussions.

The Dockers were second on the ladder leading into last weekend’s match before their 29-point loss.

“I’m absolutely devastated to be honest, gutted – there couldn’t be any more words for it,” McGregor said.

“I’m gutted for the playing group and for the work we’ve put in for two years – we’ve gone from losing by an average of 80 points every game to sitting second.

“Their (the club’s) timing is just poor – I can understand doing it at the end of the year … I don’t get it.

“I’ve put a lot of heart and soul into the club and the playing group, and it would’ve been lovely to get a chance to coach them in finals and achieve something.”

McGregor said he hoped to coach at another club as soon as next season.

He served as Warrandyte coach in Division 3 from 2018 to 2020, taking the club to a semi-final in 2019 after stints in the Northern league.

In 2021 he was an assistant at Premier Division outfit Doncaster before landing the Dockers’ role ahead of 2022.

“Absolutely (I’d like to coach again) – I think I’ve got a lot to offer,” McGregor said.

“One hundred per cent, I’d take a call.”

McGregor said he attended Templestowe’s match on the weekend and would continue to support the players.

“At the end of the day, my main care has always been the playing group.”