Southern league: Hampton and Highett on the hunt for new senior coaches

Two early coaching vacancies have cropped in the Southern league, with Craig McIndoe standing down at Hampton and premiership mentor Sam Hecker resigning at Highett.

Outgoing Hampton coach Craig McIndoe says his successor will take over a team well equipped to occupy the top rungs of the SFNL Division 2 ladder in the future.

McIndoe told the club earlier in the season that this would be his last year in charge.

The Hammers are advertising for a replacement for the respected former Seaford mentor, who joined Hampton in 2017.

McIndoe confirmed he would seek a role in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean league in 2020.

“Yeah, I would like to move back there, either as a senior coach or an assistant,’’ he said.

In the meantime he’ll try to win a final with the Hammers, who will qualify fifth.

He believes they can spring a surprise.

“We’ve been competitive against all the good sides,’’ McIndoe said.

“Lost by a goal against Keysborough, five points and beaten in the last 17 seconds against Springy (Springvale Districts), we’ve beaten Doveton Eagles. Murrumbeena got hold of us a couple of times but outside of that we’ve been up there.’’

McIndoe said whoever took over would have a promising list given experience by Mark Deveraux, former MPNFL star Lew Roberts and Alex Gleeson.

“I think we’ve developed a reasonable list and they’re in a good position to move forward,’’ he said.

“When I got there I think a lot of people had pigeonholed them to be on the decline and finish low. We had seven wins in that first season, which was a pretty good effort considering two sides got relegated.

“We improved and were in the five with two rounds to play last year, and we’ve made the finals this year. So if the incoming coach and the club can maintain the list and pick up a couple of players, they should be around the mark. It (the job) is a good fit for anyone … a lot of the guys are 21, 22, 23 and getting up to 50 games.’’

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The Hammers say they have “set some really strong foundations this season and … with a blend of experienced senior players and a young and exciting list the club is set improve in the coming years’’.

Applications close on Monday, September 9 and can be sent to football manager Brad Timms at [e-mail]

Highett captain Tom Brown and coach Sam Hecker lift the 2018 Division 2 premiership cup.

Meanwhile, Highett senior coach Sam Hecker is also standing down.

The former St Bedes Mentone Tigers star has been with the Bulldogs for five years and led them to a memorable Division 2 premiership last year.

It’s been tougher in Division 1, with Highett ninth on the ladder with two wins.

“Sam came to us in 2015 crossing after a long and successful VAFA career,’’ the Bulldogs said.

“In his second year in charge he took the club to finals. Last year he tasted the ultimate success, coaching our club to the Division 2 senior premiership. This year has been a challenge due to injuries and step-up in competition but Sam has stuck fat and developed our young players.’’