NINE clubs will have a new senior coach when the 2015 Northern Football League season kicks off.
More than a third of the league’s 25 senior clubs have appointed a new coach this off-season, including four Division 1 clubs.
Ben Turner has replaced Robert Hyde at Division 1 premier Greensborough, after the two-time premiership coach announced his retirement following the Boro’s drought-breaking premiership victory.
Greensborough defeated Heidelberg by 41 points in this year’s Grand Final to claim its first Division 1 flag since 1989.
After three seasons as a player at Montmorency Park, Ben Haynes steps into the Montmorency coaching post to replace outgoing coach Bryan ‘Jack’ Cole.
The former Richmond and Essendon player has previous coaching experience, having served as a playing-coach with Silvan.
Northcote Park has appointed two-time Morwell premiership coach Harmit Singh (pictured below) as playing-coach, following Jason Heatley’s decision to step down after three years with the Cougars.
The 27-year-old relished the playing-coach position at Morwell, taking the Tigers to back-to-back premiership wins in the Gippsland League over the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, Leigh Cole – a former assistant to Gary Ayres at VFL club Port Melbourne – has joined West Preston-Lakeside.
Cole replaces Frank Raso who has taken on a position with TAC Cup club Northern Knights after two seasons at J.E. Moore Park.
In Division 2, former Banyule and Eltham coach Craig Hayes will take over the reins at Diamond Creek as the club looks to improve on a disappointing 2014 campaign.
Hayes (pictured below) replaces David Calthorpe who left the Creekers following a heavy defeat to North Heidelberg in Round 8. Brian Hardman coached the club for the final 10 rounds of the 2014 season.
Michael Ryan makes the jump into Bridges’ coaching post to replace Jono Manzoney after joining Hurstbridge as a player 12 months ago.
Ryan served as a playing assistant to Manzoney this season after crossing from Division 1 club Bundoora.
2014 Senior Club of the Year, Panton Hill, will also have a change to its coaching ranks after 2013 premiership coach Dean Haydock stepped aside after three years at the helm.
Haydock will be replaced by former Redbacks star Joffa Byron, who served as a playing-coach for the club in the back half of the 2011 season. Byron will be assisted by fellow 2013 premiership player Tristan Kreymborg.
Jason Plant will coach Banyule in its inaugural season in the Northern Football League. The Bears will enter the league in Division 3 next season.
Plant was a senior assistant for the Bears last year and replaces 2014 coach Craig Hayes who has taken on the coaching position at Diamond Creek.
The only other coaching change in third division is at Watsonia, where Corey McCall (pictured above) takes on his first senior coaching position after previous development roles at Northern Knights and Eastern Ranges. McCall replaces Damien Zanic.
Continue below for the full list of coaches for 2015.
DIVISION 1
Bundoora – Phil Plunkett
Eltham – Mario Bandera
Greensborough – Ben Turner (replacing Robert Hyde)
Heidelberg – Craig Hunter
Lower Plenty – Vin Dattoli
Macleod – Garry Ramsay
Montmorency – Ben Haynes (replacing Bryan Cole)
North Heidelberg – Stephen Saddington
Northcote Park – Harmit Singh (replacing Jason Heatley)
West Preston-Lakeside – Leigh Cole (replacing Frank Raso)
DIVISION 2
Diamond Creek – Craig Hayes (replacing David Calthorpe/Bud Hardman)
Fitzroy Stars – Travis Hodgson
Hurstbridge – Michael Ryan (replacing Jono Manzoney)
Lalor – Steven Marshall
Mernda – Brett Wilson
Panton Hill – Joffa Byron (replacing Dean Haydock)
Thomastown – Dean Sinclair
Whittlesea – Brad Dean
DIVISION 3
Banyule – Jason Plant (replacing Craig Hayes)
Epping – Steven Power
Heidelberg West – Derek Shaw
Reservoir – Ross Terranova
St Mary’s – Con Borg
South Morang – Craig Lambert
Watsonia – Corey McCall (replacing Damien Zanic)
