SFNL: All the latest coaching moves ahead of 2025
Re-signing, retiring and everything between. Keep up to date with what the Southern league coaches are doing in 2025.
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Some are in, some are out and some are undecided — the coaching merry-go-round is in full swing across the Southern league.
Keep up with all the latest updates here ...
DIVISION 1
BENTLEIGH
Bentleigh is in the market for a new senior coach after it parted ways with veteran mentor Kristian Bardsley during the week.
“There were just some dynamics within the playing group, things regarding structure and recruitment to the club that we drew the conclusion that KB wasn’t the man to take us forward,” Demons president Brett Marshall said.
“It was in no way, shape or form a reflection on his effort or dedication or even his game style, we just felt we need to make a change to take us forward.”
CRANBOURNE
Cranbourne has locked away Angelo Soldatos as its next senior coach.
He has vast experience as a player and assistant coach from many years in the Eastern league.
“I am ready, I have done a decent apprenticeship at some really good footy clubs,” Soldatos said.
“I have been really lucky, I have worked under some great coaches as a player and a coach and have learnt as much as I can.”
Soldatos has replaced outgoing premiership coach Steve O’Brien.
DINGLEY
Dingley has re-signed Zach Horsley after a superb 2024 campaign.
The Dingoes have improved from their straight sets finals exit last year by qualifying for another Southern league Division 1 grand final.
The Dingoes have also re-signed their reserves and under-19 coaches.
EAST BRIGHTON
Premiership coach Nick Jewell is going around again and is getting busy on the recruiting front.
He’s declared finals as the benchmark for East Brighton after it signed top midfielder Ben Dessent.
“Obviously finals is the goal,” he said.
MURRUMBEENA
Michael Kinsella will guide Beena into the top flight after an emphatic Division 2 flag.
He suffered defeated just once in 2024 – a season where the Lions as a whole won three senior premierships.
SPRINGVALE DISTRICTS
Master coach Kris Thompson will steer Springvale Districts again next season.
He has taken the club from a Division 3 goer to a Division 1 contender and should improve again next season after securing superstar midfielder Jackson Sketcher.
ST PAUL’S MCKINNON
Andy Scott signed up for two years when he was announced as the Bulldogs coach last season.
He took St Paul’s McKinnon to a preliminary final which is an improvement on its sixth-placed finish last year.
The Dogs will be stronger in 2025 under Scott, with Matt O’Brien, Nick Stathopoulos and Harry Hunt expected to return.
DIVISION 2
DOVETON
Matt Stapleton will coach the Doves again in 2025 after he took them to another preliminary final in his first season at the helm.
EAST MALVERN
Experienced coach Mick Rossborough has stepped away after two decades of coaching.
Rossborough informed the club of his decision prior to the season before he oversaw the Panthers to the Division 2 grand final.
East Malvern is yet to announce Rossborough’s replacement.
ENDEAVOUR HILLS
Matt Peake made sure the Falcons’ 2023 Division 3 flag wasn’t a flash in the pan with a steady 2024 season.
The premiership coach will lead Endeavour Hills again in 2025 as it looks to build on its seven wins.
FRANKSTON DOLPHINS
Taylor Stratton is locked in for 2025.
He took the Dolphins to their maiden flag this year and will have a strong nucleus of under-19s filtering into the senior program next year.
HAMPTON PARK
Hampton Park will be coached by former Noble Park premiership player Luke Bull after veteran coach Hayden Stanton resigned during the year.
Bull is “exactly” what the Redbacks need, according to club president Craig Seers.
“He’s had a phenomenal career at Noble Park and having chats with him, a playing coach, he’s exactly what we need,” Seers said.
“We’re not far off with the group we’ve got, a lot are looking to come back and we just think he’s going to bring that all together.”
HIGHETT
Clint Einsiedel has committed to the Bulldogs for 2025 and is already actively looking to retain and recruit ahead of next season.
KEYSBOROUGH
Chris Smith will coach Keysborough again in 2025 after a promising season this year.
The Burras improved on their three-win 2023 with six in 2024.
MORDIALLOC
Mordialloc has elevated Josh Jewell from interim to senior coach for 2025.
Jewell was called into the top job after the club parted ways with Ben McGee.
“We’re not going to take lightly how this season has gone, we will be building fitness, strength up and knowing what the game plan is from the outset,” Jewell said.
“We want everyone to have fun but you’re having a lot more fun when you’re winning and it takes hard work to win.”
DIVISION 3
ASHWOOD
Coach Michael Decorrado is set to lead the Magpies again in 2025, however the competition he steers them in remains unclear.
BLACK ROCK
Black Rock has announced Matt Huber as its next senior coach.
Huber joins with strong amateur experience as a player and coach.
He took the job after the Jets and Ryan Hoy went their separate ways in May.
“I want to make it a destination club within the community … we’re in a tough area with your Cheltenham’s, Beaumaris’ and St Bede’s Mentone’s but my goal is to make us relevant in that area and I think it’s achievable,” Huber said.
CARRUM PATTERSON LAKES
Carrum Patterson Lakes has replaced retiring mentor Brad Canavan with former Eastern league premiership coach Sean Stanton.
Stanton joins with the senior, reserves and under-19s all fresh of finals campaigns.
“I really like that Carrum Patterson Lakes has a strong junior program, all three grades played finals this year, with the 19s still in the hunt,” Stanton said.
“They’ve got a great facility, I like the vision Steve (Benson, club president) put to me, where they see the club now and where they would like it to get to.
“After I met with the club and some of the playing group, the decision was an easy one to make to be honest, I was really impressed.
“Hopefully I can come in and we can build on what the club has done so far.”
HEATHERTON
Matt Shorey resigned from his position at Heatherton during the year to coach his son next season.
The Tunners are still on the lookout for a senior coach.
The top side reached the preliminary final while the under-19s won a premiership this season.
LYNDHURST
Andy Clarke is set to coach the Lightning for a second season after they finished fifth in the highly-competitive third division this year.
SOUTH MORNINGTON
Chris Baker is locked in for 2025.
He took the Tigers to a second successive grand final after climbing from Division 4 last season.
SKYE
Paddy Cooke will coach the Bombers on his own after sharing the role with Ben Walker this season.
He is looking to implement a “complete reset” at Skye in 2025.
“We think it actually works in our favour, it won’t be easy because I think Division 3 will be quite difficult next year but it’ll be a little easier than Div 2,” he said of relegation.
“Hopefully we can be super competitive and build back into Div 2.”
ST KILDA CITY
St Kilda City has re-signed coach Jason Hamilton for 2025.
The Saints collected five wins and lost another after the siren this season.
Their promising finish to 2024 has them in a good position to be around the mark in Division 3 next year.
DIVISION 4
CLAYTON
Clayton has signed Jackson Maloney as its next senior coach, replacing outgoing stalwart Jayden Gilmour.
Gilmour is staying on to help Maloney in an assistant role.
DANDENONG WEST
Dandenong West has re-signed Michael Lawrence for 2025.
Lawrence’s assistant coach Luke Broomhall has also re-committed and the Westerners have already locked away a reserves coach.
DOVETON EAGLES
The Eagles are still advertising for their senior coaching position after parting ways with coach Rob Marks effective immediately during the year.
HALLAM
The man who guided the Hawks to the Division 4 grand final, John Dalton, has signed on for 2025.
Hallam enjoyed a brilliant return Southern league season and will be a contender under Dalton again in 2025.
LYNDALE
Brendon Groenendyk has recommitted to the Pumas after they bolted to a preliminary final.
Groenendyk has been active in bolstering the list which showed great improvement in 2024.
MOORABBIN KANGAROOS
Experienced mentor Richard Houston took the Roos to an elimination final this season and will steer them for a further two years.
NARRE SOUTH SAINTS
You can expect a bit of speed and excitement from Narre South Saints under new coach Matt Davis in 2025.
He coached the under-19s this season and will be looking to bleed his former group into a new time slot.
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