Garry Ramsay stands down as Montmorency coach after four years at helm

After four years at the helm, respected Montmorency coach Garry Ramsay has decided to take a break from local footy, adamant he will not coach in 2023.

Garry Ramsay stands down as Montmorency coach. Picture: Hamish Blair

Montmorency coach Garry Ramsay has stood down after four years in charge.

The respected mentor leaves a strong legacy at Para Road having led the club to NFL Division 1 finals in both his two completed seasons at the helm.

The Magpies finished third and reached a preliminary final this season and claimed the under-19s premiership.

However, Ramsay has decided to take a break from coaching at local level after more than 20 years.

“I’m having a break from local footy, maybe it’s time to get my golf handicap down or try something a bit different,” he said.

Garry Ramsay has stood down as coach of Montmorency. Picture: Hamish Blair

“We’ve ticked a lot of the boxes we said we would, finishing top three in the seniors, top three in the reserves and winning a flag in the 19s.

“I think there’s some real momentum, so I think it will be a very attractive job for a good coach.

“The club has been amazing, I couldn’t have asked for better support, but after 20 years it’s probably time I do something different on Saturdays.”

Montmorency finished seventh before Ramsay was appointed for the 2019 season.

He led the Magpies back to finals for the first time since 2014, losing an elimination final against eventual premier West Preston-Lakeside.

The club was sitting sixth, a game out of the top-five, when the 2021 season was called off and launched up the ladder this year.

Montmorency secured the strongest recruiting class of any Northern Football League club over the off-season, welcoming ex-AFL star Lin Jong, Mitch Honeychurch, Danko Bzenic, VFL-listed Darcy Porter and gun ruckman Liam Wale-Buxton.

By the end of the season, the Magpies boasted the NFL Division 1 leading goalkicker in Patrick Fitzgerald and the leading – but ineligible – Rosbrook Medal vote-getter in Wale-Buxton.

Ramsay said he was very proud of his time at Montmorency Park.

“I’ve coached a few different club and hopefully left them in a better place than when I found them, that’s the job of a coach,” he said.

“The support I’ve had at Montmorency has been fantastic, the committee is amazing, off-field has been brilliant, I could not have asked for better support.”

Ramsay started out with Panton Hill in 2000 and has coached Lower Plenty, Watsonia and Macleod, winning premierships with the Bears and Kangaroos.

He also led the Northern Football League inter-league team to the No.1 rank in the Community Championships, defeating Geelong in 2019.

The Magpies will now commence the search for a new coach.

Montmorency president Greg Bowman conceded he was disappointed to lose Ramsay’s services and thanked him for his impact.

“Garry decided that four years was enough for him,” he said.

“We wanted Garry to coach again, it was his decision to resign, there’s no animosity whatsoever between Garry and the club.

DIV 1: HEIDELBERG CROWNED KING IN THE NORTH

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

MEDAL: ROOSTERS RULE IN DRAMATIC ROSBROOK COUNT

“We’re disappointed he won’t continue next year but our club is so much the better for having Garry over the past four years, in every facet of our operation on and off the field.

“Our seniors and reserves reached a prelim and our under-19s won the premiership and Garry has played a role in all three successes.

“We certainly wish him well moving forward in whatever he decides to do.”

Montmorency joins Whittlesea and Eltham in looking for new senior coaches.