SFNL: Nick Jewell steps down as East Brighton coach

A top division Southern league club and its senior coach have parted ways. Find out why, and see who will take over.

Nick Jewell. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

East Brighton and senior coach Nick Jewell have parted ways.

Jewell said he had made the decision to step down from the Southern league Division 1 club and cited health issues.

“Footy’s the least of my concerns to be honest,” Jewell said, adding he had been unwell for some time and was awaiting scan results to determine the issue.

Jewell had been due to finish his coaching tenure at East Brighton at the end of the season, and last week had spoken of a new player-led approach to decision-making going forward.

Jewell took over at East Brighton ahead of the 2023 season and won the Division 2 premiership in his first year at the helm.

Former East Brighton coach Ben Murphy will return to the club and take over for the foreseeable future in Jewell’s absence.

Murphy previously coached East Brighton from 2011 to 2015, and led the club to four grand finals and two premierships in that time.

“The club’s in fantastic hands, it’s a great get for us at the last minute,” said East Brighton president Ben Douthie, who was the club’s captain when Murphy last coached the Vampires.

“He’s got a strong connection with the club and knows a lot of important people, the club needed a chop out and he was happy to jump in and give us a helping hand.

“He’s a well credentialed coach with a lot of experience, he knows what he’s taking about.”

The Vampires are in the finals hunt and sit sixth on the ladder with a 5-5 record, only sitting outside the top-five on percentage.

They will host Cranbourne at Hurlingham Park this Saturday, at 2pm.