Holbrook’s Andrew Mackinlay and Josh Jones continue to build on their famous fathers’ football legacy
Country footy clubs across the length and breadth of Victoria and southern NSW are getting the desired results from their first-year coaches, including former AFL star Ed Curnow at Lorne and sons of Hume premiership heroes Robbie Mackinlay and Cameron Jones.
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Appointing the right coach is the top priority for every country football club and their first year in the job is always a significant test.
The Weekly Times profiles an accomplished group of footy players, and now coaches, who have taken that pressure in their stride and are already delivering results.
ANDREW MACKINLAY AND JOSH JONES, Holbrook
Their fathers played a combined 696 senior matches for Holbrook and are dual premiership teammates.
But Andrew Mackinlay and Josh Jones are breaking new ground in their first season as co-coaches of the Hume league club.
The pair took over from 2022 premiership coach Matthew Sharp and have the Brookers well-placed for more September action and another likely showdown with perennial powerhouse Osborne on grand final day.
Mackinlay’s father Robbie is Holbrook’s games record holder with 369 matches and Jones’ dad Cameron is not far behind on 327.
They both played in the club’s 1985 and 1991 flags.
Their sons and current co-coaches were born only four months apart and played in junior flags together at the Brookers.
Mackinlay had a stint with Lavington that included the 2019 Ovens & Murray premiership before returning to his home club for the upset win against Osborne in the 2022 Hume grand final.
Jones missed the 2022 triumph when he was playing at Tamworth.
“I’ve always enjoyed being a leader of some sort, so coaching was a natural progression,” Mackinlay said.
“To be able to do it with Josh is pleasing because it’s a big role. We’re also like-minded.
“We’re also very lucky to have good people on the committee, the club is in good shape and not having to do as much as potentially other senior coaches have to do.
“We’ve got a good side and got a chance to go deep.
“We’re going to earn our stripes when we’ve to have a few hard conversations (on selection).”
ED CURNOW, Lorne
The best credentialed rookie senior coach in country football this season.
Curnow played 221 matches in 14 seasons for Carlton including 17 in his final year in the AFL when the Blues made a charge deep into September.
Curnow grew up on the Surf Coast and replaced Alex Adams as Lorne coach.
Lorne president Carly Enticott said there is a buzz about the town after his signing and the phone has been “running hot” with interest.
“Once you meet him he is one of the most down to earth, considerate, he understands country football, he understands the importance of the football club and where it fits in Lorne’s community,” Enticott said.
Lorne bowed out in the first semi-final last season and was on top of the ladder before an upset one-point loss to Western Eagles last Saturday.
NED AULSEBROOK, East Geelong
The dual premiership player with Barwon Heads 2019 and 2022 has taken over as player-coach of the in-form Geelong & District league club that hasn’t won a flag since 2009. He is originally from Hampden league club Warrnambool and also had a stint with Labrador on the Gold Coast.
Aulsebrook plays in the midfield, but can plug holes elsewhere when required.
East Geelong suffered a shock loss in round one before going on a 10-match winning streak that included the scalp of second-placed Belmont Lions last Saturday.
JAKE THRUM, Irymple
The Golden Square premiership player last year moved to the Sunraysia region in north-west Victoria this year for work and was snapped up by Irymple, which has bounced out of Covid with back-to-back flags in 2022-23.
The 28-year-old midfielder was at Golden Square from 2016 to last season with last year’s grand final his 128th match with the club.
The Cohuna junior also represented the Bendigo league during his time with Golden Square.
“Coaching is something I’ve always had interest in, but I wasn’t expecting it to be 2024,” Thrum said.
JASON MURPHY, Nyah Nyah West United
The non-playing coach of the ladder-leading Central Murray league team retired as a player in 2016.
Murphy spent almost a decade at Woorinen from 2013 as a player and coach at lower levels before moving to NNWU.
He started his career at Tooleybuc and also played at Swan Hill and the now defunct Woomelang-Lascelles.
Murphy took over as NNWU coach from Corey Daniels, who co-coached last year with Nick O’Neill, who remains with the club.
NNWU lost the preliminary final to eventual premier Kerang last year and beat another flag contender, Balranald, last Saturday.
JAKE McQUEEN, Nhill
Former Nhill junior who has returned to the Wimmera club that remains in the mix to play finals heading into the second half of the season.
The 25-year-old played mostly for Southport in the VFL last year, but squeezed in two appearances for Nhill that led to him coming back and taking on the top job.
Also had season with Wangaratta Rovers in 2022 and also represented the Ovens & Murray in his one year in the competition.
A win against Horsham Saints on Saturday has opened up a shot at finals with fifth-placed Minyip-Murtoa next in its sights.
MICHAEL STOCKDALE, Woodside
The former Traralgon junior has Woodside well-placed to go one better than last season when it lost the grand final to Traralgon Tyers United in the North Gippsland league.
TTU went through the 2022 season undefeated and the Wildcats beat them in the season opener in Stockdale’s first match at the helm with the return match looming on July 6.
Stockdale joined Woodside last year with the club yet to win a flag in the league.
JOSH PIPER, Omeo-Benambra
Piper joined Omeo-Benambra last year after playing with Lakes Entrance from 2018 to 2022.
Originally from Traralgon, Piper also played for Glengarry and Mirboo North before returning
returning to the Gippsland league to play with his brother-in-law, Joel Soutar, who captained and coached Morwell.
“Coaching is something I always wanted do,” Piper said.
Missed the first three matches of the season, but has hit form since his return with Omeo-Benambra sitting on top of the Omeo-District league ladder despite losing to second-placed Lindenow South on Saturday.
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