We rank the best local footy coaches in Melbourne’s metro area
From former AFL superstars to local club legends, we’ve picked the best coaches in suburban footy and ranked the top 15. See who made the list and why.
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Ranking footballers across competitions is a tough task – but is there a tougher job than sorting the best current local coaches?
Some have raised several cups, others one or two – and some, none – while a handful have occupied their post for seasons on end – some even for a decade.
Coaches are considered on their record purely at local level, and those who took teams from lower divisions to the top or turned mid-table clubs into powerhouses got a little more credit from the judges.
While premierships are a major factor, longevity and consistency also sit high among the selection criteria.
Here are our top current local coaches – did we get it right?
BEST OF THE REST
Jarrod Bayliss, Coldstream
Fresh off overseeing back-to-back flags with Outer East club Powelltown across 2022-23, the current Coldstream coach also led Park Orchards to a maiden Eastern league crown in 2017 in Division 3. He stepped down as Powelltown coach at the end of last season after three years at the helm, breaking the club’s 33-year premiership drought in ‘22. And he’s got Coldstream locked in for the Eastern Division 3 finals this year, in his first season in charge.
Arron Bray, Riddell
Is this the year Bray wins his long-awaited premiership as a coach? The respected mentor led Broadford to back-to-back Riddell District preliminary finals in 2015-16 before stepping away. He was lured back to the sidelines in 2021 by former rival and new Essendon District league club Rupertswood. The Sharks won just two Division 1 games in his first season before bouncing up the ladder and a fifth-placed finish in 2022. Bray led Rupo to its first EDFL finals appearance last season, taking the club to the preliminary final. Lured across to Riddell this year, the Bombers are four games clear on top of the ladder and warm premiership favourites. Bray has also coached the RDFNL’s interleague side, claiming wins over West Gippsland and Central Highlands.
Todd Clark, Oak Park
Clark was first appointed to the top job at the Essendon District league club before Covid and has since led a powerful outfit. They were on track to play finals in 2021 before the year was cancelled, lost a grand final in 2022 and then tasted the ultimate success last year. Now he has his side locked away for a finals place after promotion.
Mick Fogarty, Beaconsfield
Premierships are tough to win in any era, but two flags with Noble Park across 2010 and ’11 returned the Bulls to the top of the Eastern league’s powerhouses after Vermont and Balwyn had shared a duopoly on titles from 2005-09. He also guided Noble to the 2013 grand final. Leading Beaconsfield since 2020, Fogarty oversaw the Eagles’ move into the Eastern league from Outer East at the end of 2021, where he led the club to an inaugural Eastern finals campaign in ’23. And Beacy is set for September again.
Paris Harvie, Park Orchards
Harvie took South Croydon from the EFL’s then Division 3 to Division 1 (now Premier) in three short years from 2006-09. South Croydon romped to a 46-point win over Upper Ferntree Gully to move up to Division 2 and came within six-points of completing back-to-back premierships and promotions in 2007 in a heartbreaking loss to Knox. However, Harvie completed the job in 2009 as he guided the club back to the top flight for the first time since 1993. Has also coached Doncaster East, Mooroolbark and North Ringwood – and currently has Park Orchards humming on top of the Division 1 ladder.
Steve Hughes, Noble Park
Led Springvale Districts to a Southern league flag in 2007 before guiding Bonbeach to a grand final in 2019. But he’s most recently won a premiership with Noble Park in Eastern’s top-flight in 2022, toppling minor premier Rowville.
Nick Jewell, East Brighton
Jewell’s coaching journey has taken him far and wide, but one thing has stayed the same at each club – they’ve all been strong. He recently took East Brighton to a flag in Division 2 of the Southern league after a particularly successful run in the Mornington Peninsula league. The Vampires will now play finals in Division 1 for the first time in over a decade.
Jamie Lobb, Diggers Rest
After three-years as a player, winning a RDFNL premiership in 2016, Lobb was elevated to senior coach in 2018. He has kept Diggers Rest in perennial flag contention in his five full seasons at the helm. The Burras made the grand final in his first year, falling to Riddell, before a shock preliminary final defeat in 2019 after winning the minor premiership. After two Covid-affected seasons, Lobb guided Diggers back to the decider but again fell to Riddell, before finally making a premiership breakthrough last year - defeating Woodend-Hesket by 43 points. The Burras will again be among the top contenders this season, sitting equal second on the ladder.
Brett Moyle, Norwood
The former AFL Saint led North Ringwood into Eastern’s top division following flags in 2012 (Division 3) and ’14 (Division 2). He later returned to the North Ringwood helm for a second stint and has since held roles at Wantirna South and now Norwood. The former Balwyn captain is also a former interleague coach with Eastern.
Daniel Nolan, Wallan
Started out as playing co-coach at the Magpies in 2017 before hanging up the boots and picking up the magnet board solo in 2018. Has overseen a rejuvenation at Greenhill Reserve. After a heartbreaking finals miss in 2017, Wallan finished fifth in 2018 before a stunning finals campaign saw it go from fifth to a grand final in 2019. Nolan’s Magpies were top of the ladder in 2021 when the season was called off due to Covid and it saw him awarded the AFL Victoria Coach of the Year. Consecutive preliminary final finishes have followed. Wallan will again be among the top contenders for the premiership this season, currently sitting second.
Steve O’Brien, Cranbourne
O’Brien is set to call time on his coaching career at season’s end – and what a career it has been. He’s pulled off rebuilds, a premiership and managed some of local footy’s best footballers in his time. “Obi’s” coaching career has expanded across three decades.
Brett Rowe, Ringwood
Consistency has been the cornerstone of Rowe’s tenure at Jubilee Park since starting in 2018. Guiding the club to three consecutive grand finals across 2018, ’19 and ’22, the Redbacks turned out an unbeaten campaign until it was upset in the ’18 decider, while they were pipped at the post by Mitcham in ’19. Had it not been for Covid, Ringwood may well have saluted a flag or played in another grand final under Rowe, with the team on top of the ladder when the season was called off in 2021. The club was later awarded a minor premiership cup. Rowe’s men ran into one of local footy’s most dominant outfits of recent seasons in the 2022 decider – falling to South Belgrave. They’ve missed the finals just once under Rowe’s watch (2023), but aside from that, they’ve never been out of the premiership race. Across six years at the helm, Rowe has twice been named coach of the year in his respective division.
Paul Satterley, Old Melburnians
Across the last decade, he has enjoyed stints at De La Salle, Old Xaverians and now Old Melburnians. The former JJ Liston Trophy winner is one of the most respected coaches across the competition. He has a habit of building up sides.
Heath Scotland, Bundoora
Made the move into senior coaching with his junior club Darley, in the Ballarat league, in 2017 and took the Devils to the premiership in his first season. He was awarded the best-on-ground medal and won the league’s Coach of the Year. After three years, he would move into development coaching at AFL and VFL clubs before returning to the top job at Deer Park. He coached the Lions to a Division 1 premiership in their first season in the Essendon District league but parted ways soon after. He’s now in charge of Northern heavyweight Bundoora, tasked with rebuilding the Bulls after an off-season exodus.
Paddy Swayn, Pines
The 2018 premiership coach is in his 10th straight season at the helm of the Pythons. Swayn is always hatching new ways to improve and lift his Pythons. The 2018 flag held an enormous weight, as Pines hadn’t won a premiership for 24 years.
Andrew Tranquilli, Diamond Creek
Spent an extraordinary seven seasons at Eastern league club Doncaster, taking the club from Division 3 to the top flight. The Sharks were relegated from Division 2 in Tranquilli’s first season in charge but bounced back immediately with a premiership the very next season. Then guided the club to the Premier Division for the first time since 1992 with a second flag in 2015. Stunningly, Doncaster made finals in its first season back in the top flight and the next two years before Tranquilli pulled the pin in 2018. He took the reins at Northern league club Diamond Creek before the cancelled 2020 season and led the Creekers to a Division 2 grand final last year.
OUR TOP 15
15. Jack Cole, Kew
Cole jumped into the coaches box at 48 and is still guiding footballers 19 years later. He coached Montmorency, Greensborough, Healesville, Woori Yallock and now Kew. Cole took Mont to two grand finals, Healesville to its first flag in 28 years and Woori Yallock to two grand finals. Now at VAFA club Kew, he’s been tasked with rebuilding the Bears back into the Premier grades.
14. Kris Thompson, Springvale Districts
Thompson is heavily credited for Springvale Districts’ remarkable Southern league revival. After just being relegated, Thompson took the Demons to a flag in his first full season in 2018, they played in another grand final in 2019 and were runaway favourites during the Covid-abandoned 2021 season. In the space of four scattered seasons at the helm, Thompson has driven Districts from a relegated Division 3 side to a Division 1 contender.
13. Steve Hughes, Noble Park
Hughes took Springvale Districts to the premiership in 2007, Bonbeach to a grand final in 2019 and Noble Park to a flag in 2022. Wherever Hughes goes, success shadows him.
12. Rikki Johnston, Mt Eliza
Johnston took to coaching seamlessly after his dominant playing career, taking Dromana to back-to-back premierships in the Mornington Peninsula league. They weren’t just successive flags, Johnston’s Tigers won the Division 1 flag a short 12 months after winning the Division 2 title. He is now coaching Mt Eliza in the same competition and his old club ironically stands between him and another piece of silverware.
11. Vinny Dattoli, Heidelberg
Took West Preston-Lakeside to the NFNL Division 1 premiership in 2010, after the club had missed the top-five for six years. After three seasons, he moved on to Lower Plenty, helping the club establish itself in the top flight but the Bears didn’t play finals in during Dattoli’s three-year tenure. Helped build Heidelberg’s enviable junior pathway and stepped up as the Tigers senior coach in 2023 after serving as Danny Nolan’s assistant in the 2022 premiership. Guided the Tigers to back-to-back flags last year and the club is red-hot favourite to make it a hat-trick this season. Also spent time at Carey Grammar as First XVIII coach, helping the likes of Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson become top AFL draft picks.
10. Peter Bastinac, Pearcedale
‘Bushy’ Bastinac is in his third stint at his beloved Pearcedale, where he took the club to back-to-back flags in 1995 and ’96. He went to Rowville, returned to Pearcedale, built on Montrose and then bounced back to Tractor Park once again. Under Bastinac, the Dales are never far from September.
9. Chris Gilham, Werribee Districts
Since taking over from Paul Chapman for the 2017 season, Gilham has led Werribee Districts to finals in every season. Previously, he coached at Geelong West-St Peter’s in the Geelong Football League and was a premiership coach at Werribee Centrals. Gilham was a premiership coach again last season after a remarkable season for his side.
8. Garry Ramsay, Whittlesea
Started out at Watsonia, then Panton Hill, before - as a first-year coach - he led Lower Plenty to a NFNL Division 2 premiership in 2011 and cemented the club in the top flight the following season before moving on. Ramsay took the reins at Macleod in 2013 and turned the club into a powerhouse. If Local Footy Stats’ stats are correct, he took the Kangas to their first A-Grade/Division 1 finals since 1972 in 2014 and led the club to a 44-year drought-breaking premiership in 2015. Three more grand final appearances would follow but, devastatingly, none returned a flag. Spent three years at Montmorency through Covid before having a year off. Returned to the sidelines this year at Whittlesea and has the Eagles 16-0 and red-hot Division 2 premiership favourites. Also coached the Northern league’s representative side to the No. 1 ranking in the Community Championships in 2019, defeating the Geelong league.
7. Steve Buckle, Knox
Took over a battling Heathmont midway through 2009 as the club was relegated to Division 4 – but he lifted the Jets to premiership success in an extra-time thriller against Glen Waverley two years later. Buckle stepped up a grade to Doncaster East in 2014 and almost immediately won the flag, going down to Doncaster in 2015. The Lions would fall short again in 2017 but Buckle finally held the Division 2 (now Div 1) cup aloft in 2018 with a 10-goal romp against Lilydale. The club would be denied promotion under an Eastern restructure but it mattered little as the Lions went back-to-back in ‘19 to reach Premier Division for the first time in their history. Now the coach of Knox, he’s got the club set for its first finals campaign since 2017.
6. Jason Heatley, North Heidelberg
After his AFL career, Heatley returned to North Heidelberg in 2001 as playing coach, going on to kick 110 goals and win the league goalkicking award. Coached Hampton league club Warrnambool and Wantirna South in the Eastern before returning to the Northern league with Northcote Park. The Cougars won the Division 1 premiership in his first season, 2012, and Heatley was awarded the Australian Football Coaches Association’s Northern Region Coach Of The Year. Was then co-coach, alongside Charles Gaylard, of Heidelberg’s 2016 premiership. Returned to Shelley Reserve before the cancelled 2020 season and has the Bulldogs in prime position to challenge Heidelberg for the flag this year.
5. Dan Donati, Old Xaverians
His record speaks for itself after taking his first foray into senior coaching in 2012 with Balwyn with his side winning four grand finals in five years. He was an assistant with Old Xavs between 2018 and 2021 before leading Barwon Heads to a premiership in 2022. He coached Old Brighton last year and now has the club where he was a champion player right back in the premiership mix this season.
4. Kevin Collins, Donvale
He’s led the Vales to glory in two separate stints decades apart. He won a third senior crown in Division 3 last year, bolting it in by 10 goals over Ferntree Gully after dropping just one match all season. He also raised the cup in the league’s second tier in 1994, before toppling a juggernaut Vermont outfit in the 1996 top-flight decider – a mammoth effort considering Vermont lost just 24 matches for the entire ‘90s decade. Returning to the Vales’ senior ranks ahead of 2020, Collins and the club came within a kick of the Division 3 flag in 2022. And he’s got Donvale finishing top of the ladder in Division 3 this season, recently winning 31 games in a row across the past two years – the second-longest unbeaten run in Eastern league history. His most recent success has been built almost entirely from Donvale junior talent.
3. Matt Clark, Boronia
Prior to 2018, Boronia hadn’t won a senior flag since 2000. Fast forward six years and it has won two under Clark’s watch – 2018 and 2023 – and is in the box-seat for a third this season as the pacesetter in Eastern’s Division 2. In ’18, the Hawks upset an unbeaten Ringwood in the decider, and in ’23, they won 13 in a row to claim the flag over Heathmont. Clark also led Wantirna South to a Division 3 premiership in 2014 and was Jason Heatley’s right hand man when the Devils lifted the Division 2 cup in ’08.
2. Neil Winterton, Mitcham
When the former Frankston VFL gun arrived at Walker Park in late 2014, the Tigers had not long ago been in merger talks and flirted with Division 4 footy. Winterton has since led a revival at the club, coaching it to premierships through the divisions in 2015 (3), ’19 (2) and ’23 (1) across nine years at the helm. Discount the Covid-wiped years, and the club’s longest-serving coach has won three flags in six seasons – surely one of local footy’s best strike rates. Had it not been for an Eastern league restructure, Winterton would have coached the club into the top division following last year’s upset of an unbeaten South Belgrave in the Division 1 decider. Let’s not forget the 2015 Division 3 triumph broke a 34-year premiership drought, while his side rallied from 39 points down to nab the Division 2 cup in ’19. And he’s done it all without the aid of big-name recruits.
1. Mick McGuane, Keilor
Is it really a shock to see this man at number one with a record which speaks for itself. He signed at Keilor for the 2008 season and hasn’t left since. He has four premierships to his name including 2008, 2016, 2019 and 2022. That’s without counting those he’s achieved at junior level leading the club’s pathway from top to bottom.
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