MPNFL: Hastings coach departs, another to step away

An MPNFL coach has parted ways with his club after an end-of-season meeting, while another coach involved in finals is taking a “breather’’ next season. Here’s the latest coaching news.

Clint Einsiedel coaching Hastings this season. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It ended swiftly and amicably.

Clint Einsiedel’s two-year reign as Hastings coach is over after cutting ties with the Blues at an end-of-season meeting.

“I went to the end of year review and had a chat to them,’’ Einsiedel said.

“They asked me if I wanted to be interviewed (for the coaching job). I said no.’’

Einsiedel became Hastings’ first non-playing coach since Leigh Carpenter in 2002 when he was appointed in August, 2021.

He led Hastings to six wins from 13 games in the Covid shortened 2021 season.

This season, Hastings finished 10th, with a 5-13 record, in MPNFL Division 2.

Einsiedel said he wanted to coach somewhere next season, whether it be as senior coach or in a development role.

Hastings president John Coventry said the club’s search for its next coach was well advanced.

“We’re not just pigeonholing our look, we’ll go for a playing-coach or a non-playing coach – we’ll go for the best candidate we can get out there,’’ he said.

“We’ve been pretty active looking at it.

“We’ve got a panel that’s been out there canvassing it so we’ve got some pretty good leads.

“So we will know something in a couple of weeks.’’

Clint Einsiedel.

Brad Canavan.

Meanwhile, Somerville coach Brad Canavan has signalled his intentions to take a year off from football after the Eagles’ finals campaign.

Canavan resigned during the season but is coaching out the season — and has Somerville poised to go deep into the Division 2 finals.

The Eagles booked a spot in the second semi-final after beating Karingal in the qualifying final last Saturday.

With a raft of coaching jobs on offer around various suburban leagues, the respected Canavan was high on the list of many clubs.

But he said he wasn’t in the running for a new gig.

“My plan all along was to have a year off,’’ Canavan said.

“I was just a bit worn out.

“I’ve been doing it since 2003 with Chaps (Jason Chapple) at Bonbeach. That was my first gig as a chairman of selectors, assistant coach.

“Those last couple of years of Covid and then getting back into to it this year…it actually took a bit to get going this year.

“At the moment I’m just looking at having a breather.’’

Canavan said the role of senior coach at a suburban football club had become more demanding and each year.

“If you read the criteria for senior coach these days it is equivalent to a high end business manager,’’ he said.

“You get paid, and that’s okay, but the money doesn’t match the time and effort and commitment you put in.

“Most blokes are on what, 20 grand, 25, maybe 30, but you are doing 11 months a year. You have November or October off if you are lucky. It’s just bonkers.

“It’s an absolute love job.

“And next year will either turn me right off it or turn me back onto it and I’ll say I miss it, I’m going back to it.’’