MPNFL coaches Beau Muston and Nick Jewell to step down at season’s end

Frankston Bombers coach Beau Muston and Rosebud coach Nick Jewell have announced they’re stepping down at season’s end. They explain why.

Frankston Bombers coach Beau Muston will step down at the end of the 2022 season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It’s the last dance for a couple of MPNFL coaches this season.

Frankston Bombers coach Beau Muston has announced this will be his final season at the helm, drawing the curtain on his eight-year stint in charge.

Similarly, Rosebud coach Nick Jewell will finish up at season’s end.

Former Hawthorn player Muston is Frankston Bombers’ longest serving coach and the only coach in the club’s history to pass 100 games in charge.

He said his decision to step down had been “a long time coming’’.

“I’ve been coaching eight years now…a couple of interrupted years through coronavirus probably prolonged my journey a little bit,’’ he said.

“I just couldn’t walk away from the footy club at that time.

“I just wanted to be pretty upfront with the players early in the piece…I just wanted to put it to bed early so we could focus, give it one last crack together as a group.

“And also open opportunities to secure the best coach we can in 2023 and beyond.’’

Beau Muston in 2018.

Muston has the Bombers in premiership contention this season; they’ve won four games in a row to be 6-3 and in fourth spot on the MPNFL Division 1 ladder.

He said he was a Bomber through and through.

“When I first came to the footy club I sat down with two influential people at our footy club, that was Chris Sharman and Nathan Lonie, who is a pretty diehard Bomber as well,’’ he said.

“The biggest thing is it’s a family club and it’s probably even grown in that way since I walked through the doors.

“The one thing Chris said to me was, ‘when you come to Bombers you never want to leave’, and it’s pretty true because I don’t see myself going to coach anywhere else, especially in the short term.

“Obviously Frankston Bombers is my footy club and one I want to be around for a long period of time to get some success.’’

Muston said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family; he has three kids, aged 10, eight and two.

“My wife and kids have sacrificed a fair but for me to be able to coach,’’ he said.

“It’s a big commitment, I probably want to just spend some good family time next year.’’

Rosebud coach Nick Jewell and captain Ryan Spooner with the 2015 premiership trophy. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Jewell has had two stints as coach of Rosebud; he took the club to a premiership in 2015 and has been at the helm in his latest stint since 2019.

The Buds have battled this season and are yet to win a game.

Jewell said his exit at the end of 2022 was planned a long time ago.

“It was probably meant to be last year,’’ he said.

“We targeted three AFL blokes that we couldn’t quite get over the line.

“It was going to be a co coaching role and I was going to step back slowly as it went on.

“But we just couldn’t land them so I ended up having it for another year.

“We’re getting in early this time, half a year out to try and find someone whether it be playing or non playing.’’

Former Victorian cricketer Jewell, who is also coaching Rosebud Cricket Club, said he was looking forward to a year off football coaching in 2023.

“Will, my youngest, is in the under 19s again next year so I’m looking forward just to be able to go down and watch that without having any involvement…let him come through without me barking orders on the park,’’ he said.

“I counted I think it was about 21 seasons back to back with footy and cricket combined since I retired from Victoria, and they generally overlap for a period when the pre season starts and the other is still going.

“It’s been a long time of going from footy ground to cricket ground.

“I’m looking forward to having a bit of a spell.’’