NFL Division 3 runner-up Epping re-signs coach Greg Whitcroft for 2017

ANOTHER piece of the Northern Football League coaching jigsaw has fallen into place with Epping coach Greg Whitcroft committing to another year at the helm.

ANOTHER piece of the Northern Football League coaching jigsaw has fallen into place with Epping coach Greg Whitcroft committing to another year at the helm.

Whitcroft confirmed he had been offered a new deal after his side went down in the Division 3 grand final to Watsonia on September 3 and has since re-signed with the Pingers.

Epping went down by 47 points in the decider against Watsonia despite toppling the Saints in the major semi-final.

Whitcroft, who will enter his second year with the Pingers next season, said the club had learned a valuable lesson from the defeat.

“I think one of our major things, I thought our guys thought once you’d beaten a side you beat them forever,” he said.

Epping has re-signed the bulk of its senior squad, including prime movers Aaron Willitts, Leigh Judd and Josh Stavely.

Former captain Daniel Moore has retired, but Whitcroft said fellow veterans Kevin Kiernan, Shane Wood and Peter McMahon would play on.

“I think we have got all our guys signed, now it’s just a matter of picking a few up,” he said.

“We will be looking for a couple.”

He said the likely addition of Laurimar and Reservoir to Division 3 and introduction of a salary cap would add intrigue to the 2017 season.

Northcote Park (Matt McLennan), Bundoora (Ricky Dyson) and Thomastown (Ben Chapman) have unveiled their senior coaches for 2017 over the past week.