SFNL: Heatherton coach Matt Shorey will resign at the end of the year

A Southern league coach, who has taken his side from a winless season to premiership contention, will step away from his role at the end of the year. He talks to us about his next chapter.

Matt Shorey will coach Heatherton to the finals this season.

It’s a time in Matt Shorey’s footy journey he won’t forget.

The Heatherton coach will step away from his role at the Tunners at season’s end, regardless of the eventual result.

The Tunners haven’t tasted defeat since round 9 and are in a position to lock away second on the Southern league Division 3 ladder.

Shorey aims to steer the Tunners to the premiership before giving back to his family by coaching his son in his last year of under-age footy.

“Family has always been huge for me, they’ve followed me everywhere but the senior boys haven’t made it an easy decision, I am telling you,” Shorey said.

“It’s a team I am going to remember a long time regardless of what happens from now, it’s just been an extraordinary three months.

“It’s made my decision to walk away very tough but my wife and kids are my main focus as they’ve been so supportive throughout my 13 years.”

The Tunners are finals bound.

Shorey has taken the club from a winless season in 2022 to a contender in 2024.

He is confident he will be back with the Tunners one day because he attributes them to reigniting his passion for footy.

“This club has changed me completely in regards to how I coach – it’s made me enjoy footy again,” he said.

“I was probably in a bit of a lull spot before I came and it’s reinvigorated me because I have enjoyed it so much.

“This group has made me realise that footy should be fun, not a job, and you get the results once you create that atmosphere.

“I am definitely not shutting the door (on returning down the track).”

Shorey reckons Heatherton’s next senior coach has a stack of talent at their disposal.

“The under-19s make a huge difference, for Justin Reynolds to get that started, that group together has given the opportunity for the next coach to have talent to use,” he said.

“I have got four playing for me and they’re not just filling gaps, they’re playing key roles.

“It’s definitely an attractive role.”

Is Shorey dreaming of continuing the Tunners’ dream run all the way through September?

“Never say never,” he said.

Shorey will coach his last game in finals at Hampton Park, where he played over 200 games of senior footy.