MPFNL: Karingal appoints St Kilda champion Nathan Burke as senior coach for 2025
An AFL Hall of Famer has revealed the key factors behind his decision to coach a Mornington Peninsula Division 2 club.
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Karingal’s season had barely finished on Saturday when its new coach for 2025 was announced.
Former St Kilda captain Nathan Burke was unveiled as the man to lead the Bulls in 2025 “and beyond” in a club statement at 6pm — just 90 minutes after Karingal closed its ‘24 campaign with a feisty 20-point loss to minor premiers Edithvale-Aspendale.
“We look forward to the energy and expertise Nathan Burke will bring to the role and are excited for the future under his leadership,” Karingal said in a statement.
Burke, 54, played 323 games for St Kilda before stepping into roles as the Saints’ footy director and then most recently as coach of the Western Bulldogs’ AFLW side.
He knows Karingal well, having served as player development manager this year, working with the Bulls’ raft of young players. His brief was to help make them not just better footballers but better people by providing feedback away from the coaches.
Burke succeeds Luke Forsyth, who coached Karingal since 2020.
“While being involved with the club this season it became evident that the club’s values, people and direction presented a very exciting opportunity for me as a coach,” Burke said.
“The playing group has a great blend of both youth and experience that I am looking forward to getting my hands on and working with. But ultimately it was the genuineness of (club president) Sara (Burke) and key personnel who are determined to build an amazing club that essentially got me across the line.”
Burke played junior football at Pines before joining St Kilda’s under 19s in 1986 and making his senior debut the following year, kicking off a storied career that took in three Saints’ best and fairest awards and four All Australian honours.
Burke shares no relation to Karingal president Sara Burke and her husband, club legend Michael.
He is the brother-in-law of Bulls footy manager Steve Matthews.
Karingal finished 10th (4-14) in Division 2 of the Mornington Peninsula league this season.
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