NINE Northern Football League clubs will have a new senior coach when the 2016 football season commences.
All clubs have now finalised their coaching appointments, with premiership winners Whittlesea and Reservoir among the clubs to have a change of coach in the off-season.
Jim Atkins has replaced Brad Dean at Whittlesea after Dean announced mid-season he would not seek re-appointment in 2016, despite the Eagles going on to win the Division 2 flag.
Atkins played in Whittlesea’s 2013 premiership and was an assistant to Dean for the past two seasons.
His playing-assistant will be former Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs midfielder Justin Sherman.
Sherman played 138 AFL matches over eight seasons and joins the Eagles after steering Goulburn Valley Football League outfit Kyabram to this year’s grand final.
Meanwhile, 2007 Frank Rosbrook medallist Daniel McFerran has joined Reservoir after 2015 premiership coach Ross Terranova accepted a position with Essendon District Football League outfit Glenroy.
It is McFerran’s first senior coaching appointment after serving as a senior assistant at Westmeadows this year, where he helped the Tigers to the finals in the EDFL’s Division 1 competition.
Of the clubs who competed in Division 1 this year, only Heidelberg will have new coach next season.
Charles Gaylard has replaced 2014 grand final coach Craig Hunter, with the 27-year-old to assume a playing-coach role.
Gaylard has spent the past two seasons at Warringal Park after joining from Albury and was a member of the NFL’s representative team this year.
Former Northcote Park premiership coach Jason Heatley has been appointed as Gaylard’s senior assistant. Heatley has also coached the NFL’s senior representative team for the past two years.
In Division 2, Jason Mifsud has been appointed coach of the Fitzroy Stars.
Mifsud, the AFL’s Head of Diversity, replaces Travis Hodgson at Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval after four years in the top job.
Fellow finalist Hurstbridge has also announced a change at the helm, with Trevor Frost and Rob Dyson appointed co-coaches.
The duo replace Michael Ryan, who stood aside after guiding the Bridges to this year’s preliminary final in his sole year in charge.
Jason Ford will lead Mernda in its move back to the Division 3. The Demons announced a coaching succession plan midway through 2015, with Ford appointed to replace 2012 premiership mentor Brett Wilson.
Epping has appointed Greg Whitcroft as coach as it seeks to improve on its runner-up finish in 2015.
The former Diamond Creek and Northcote Park mentor takes the job from Steve Power.
Dean Grainger has joined South Morang following the Lions’ second consecutive preliminary final finish under Craig Lambert.
Grainger has spent the past three years at Heidelberg. He coached the Tigers’ under-19s for two seasons before stepping up to the reserves this year. He was also a senior assistant in two of his three years at Warringal Park.
Meanwhile, Grant Toms has been confirmed as Heidelberg West’s new coach.
Toms returns to Heidelberg Park after serving as a playing-assistant in 2012. He also took the reins as caretaker coach for three games that season, resulting in two wins.
Continue below for the full list of coaches for 2016.
DIVISION 1
Bundoora – Phil Plunkett
Eltham – Mario Bandera
Greensborough – Ben Turner
Heidelberg – Charles Gaylard (replacing Craig Hunter)
Lower Plenty – Vin Dattoli
Macleod – Garry Ramsay
Montmorency – Ben Haynes
Northcote Park – Harmit Singh
West Preston-Lakeside – Leigh Cole
Whittlesea – Jim Atkins (replacing Brad Dean)
DIVISION 2
Diamond Creek – Craig Hayes
Fitzroy Stars – Jason Mifsud (replacing Travis Hodgson)
Hurstbridge – Trevor Frost and Rob Dyson (replacing Michael Ryan)
Lalor – Steven Marshall
North Heidelberg – Stephen Saddington
Panton Hill – Joffa Byron
Reservoir – Daniel McFerran (replacing Ross Terranova)
Thomastown – Dean Sinclair
DIVISION 3
Banyule – Jason Plant
Epping – Greg Whitcroft (replacing Steven Power)
Heidelberg West – Grant Toms (replacing Derek Shaw)
Mernda – Jason Ford (replacing Brett Wilson)
St Mary’s – Con Borg
South Morang – Dean Grainger (replacing Craig Lambert)
Watsonia – Corey McCall
