VAFA power Old Xaverians axes senior coach Paul Satterley

Former AFL assistant and VFL coach Paul Satterley has been let go by Old Xavs despite leading them to the VAFA Premier finals.

Paul Satterley coaching Old Xaverians this year.

VAFA powerhouse Old Xaverians has dropped the axe on respected senior coach Paul Satterley.

The former VFL JJ Liston Trophy winner and Melbourne assistant coach joined Xavs this year and steered them to second place on the ladder with a 13-5 record in the home-and-away rounds.

They lost both finals, narrowly to eventual premier Uni Blues in the second semi and badly to St Kevin’s in the preliminary final.

Contacted by Leader, Satterley confirmed he had been let go by the club “officially this morning’’.

He said he was disappointed with the decision considering Old Xavs had improved after finishing seventh last season.

“I’m not totally surprised given I didn’t deliver a flag …despite the club facing relegation 12 months ago,’’ he said.

“The timing of it is disappointing because there may have been other coaching opportunities that have now slipped by.’’

Paul Satterley guided Xavs to the finals.

Satterley – who joined Xavs after a five-year stop with De La Salle - said he would like to continue coaching “if a suitable option becomes available’’.

The former Footscray-listed rover coached the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup and Werribee in the VFL before joining Melbourne’s AFL panel.

Xavs have appointed former AFL player James Byrne to take over, with assistance from Daniel Donati.

Both served as assistants to Satterley this year.

Byrne, 41, played 24 games for Adelaide between 2000-01 and later became a state league star, winning South Fremantle’s best and fairest in 2003 and the JJ Liston Trophy with Geelong in 2007.

He captained the VFL Cats to a premiership and won the 2004 and ‘06 best and fairests.

In 2011 Byrne was appointed head of player development at AFL club Essendon, spending three years with the Bombers.

Donati, who played one AFL game for Richmond, was a champion player at Noble Park and premiership-winning coach at Balwyn in the Eastern league.

In a statement late this afternoon, president Matthew Cosgrave said: “The committee of the Old Xaverians Football has completed its annual end of season football performance review.

“The purpose of the review is to assess team performance by reviewing on and off-field factors that enable the club to effectively plan and respond to needs of our players for the upcoming season.

“Following the review, the committee has elected not to extend the appointment of Paul Satterley as senior coach. Paul joined our club this year and made a positive contribution to improving the on-field results for our senior team. We thank Paul for his hard work and his leading role in lifting the senior team back into finals this year. In his short time with us, he impressed everyone at the club with his friendly and approachable manner.

“On behalf of our members, corporate partners and players, we thank him and his family for their contribution and wish him continued success in his future football coaching endeavours. Paul will always be welcomed at our football club.’’