SFNL: East Malvern has secured its coach for 2025 and 2026

A Southern league club pushing for the premiership has locked in its next senior coach, turning to a man whose “experience speaks for itself”.

John Brown. Picture: Valeriu Campan

East Malvern says he’s “what we need”.

The Panthers have locked away experienced coach John Brown as their mentor for 2025 and 2026.

Brown replaces grand final coach Mick Rossborough, who stood down at the end of the 2024 season.

Brown links with East Malvern after recent stints at Rowville in the EFNL, Frankston Dolphins in the VFL and Frankston Bombers in the MPFNL.

He also took Templestowe to a Division 4 premiership in 2010 as well as spending time at Vermont, Forest Hill and Park Orchards.

Club president Craig Roylance said Brown’s experience stood out among other candidates.

“John has a connection to the area, he was captain of the Tooronga Cricket Club for eight years in the early 2000s so that resonated straight away,” he said.

John Brown. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“And when you flick through his CV, his experience speaks for itself.

“We had a lot of applications from people who didn’t quite have the experience he had at the level he does.

“VFL, Premier Eastern and Mornington Peninsula Division 1 are a lot better than Div 2 Southern.

“Professionalism really stood out when talking to John and if we want to take that step back into Div 1, which we do, that’s what we need.”

Roylance thinks Brown, who worked with the midfielders at the Dolphins, will be a huge benefit to the Panthers’ young on-ballers.

“Our midfield this year was probably one of the best in the competition,” he said.

“John’s experience as a midfield coach at Frankston VFL, those guys will get a lot of benefit from having him.

“We have locked him in for a minimum of two years, we obviously would like to be back in Division 1 (by then) but it’s a huge leap.”

Brown has already met with some key Panthers, including captain Isaac Morrisby, and locked them away for 2025.

“John met with the leadership group last night, they were all rapt and are all committed for 2025,” Roylance said.

More to come.