SFNL: Mick Rossborough has called time on his coaching career at East Malvern

The Southern league mentor will call time on his two-decade coaching stint. Here’s why.

Mick Rossborough will call time at season’s end.

East Malvern coach Mick Rossborough says he needs a rest.

Rossborough, who took his first coaching role in 2001, will step down from his post at season’s end.

He’s coached Sandown, Ashwood and now East Malvern to finals in nine out of 11 seasons at senior level and won a number of reserves premierships.

Rossborough cites a move to regional Victoria as the driver in his decision to step down.

“I move to Numurkah next Saturday, I bought a house there,” he said.

“I’ll be coming back and forth for hopefully another month – that would mean we make a granny.

“I have enjoyed it, I am hoping to take East Malvern as far as we can.

“I am pretty rapt the three clubs I have coached have all made finals under me, I must have done something right.”

Mick Rossborough celebrates a preliminary final win with Sandown. Picture: Valeriu Campan

After coaching footy for 23 years, cricket for 10 and managing a golf club too, Rossborough doesn’t think the itch to coach will burn right away.

“I don’t think so at the start, I need a rest for sure,” he said.

“It’s a young man’s game now, I can’t get out on the ground.

“I used to get out and show blokes positioning and push and shove with guys like Isaac (Morrisby) but at 54 he’d break me in half.

“Who knows if I’ll come back to it.

“You still enjoy the match days but the training gets harder and harder, I am lucky I have had a couple of good assistants.”

East Malvern is currently third on the Southern league Division 2 ladder with Doveton (second) and Keysborough (seventh) on the run home.