Familiar names amongst Men’s Premier coaching changes for 2025

Footy never stands still and the off-season is always a flurry of activity.

Here’s the latest coaching news from the Premier sections of the Men’s competition, with some extremely well-credentialed football identities making the list:

PREMIER C

GLEN EIRA/OLD McKINNON has picked up a big-name recruit, with former Uni Blues boss Guy Martyn to take the reins at the Gryphons in 2025. Guy spent the past three seasons with the Blues after previously coaching St Kevin’s and winning back-to-back flags with the Hampton Rovers in 2013 (Division 1) and 2014 (Premier C).

AJAX have a new Senior Coach with Lachie Buszard taking the reins. Lachie was the inaugural Head Coach of the GWS Giants Development Academy, a line coach in the inaugural GWS NEAFL team and a Premiership coach at the UTS Bats in AFL Sydney. He has overseen the football programs at both Blackburn FC and Xavier College and has held various roles with Casey and Sandringham in the VFL.

PEGS will also have a new man in charge, with well-travelled footy veteran Rob Kerr stepping into the Senior Coaching role for 2025.

Rob captained PEGS’ First XVIII in his school days before embarking on a football career that included on-field stints with North Melbourne & Sydney in the late 80s and early 90s.

A successful off-field career followed, incorporating a series of high-level positions, including Essendon Assistant Coach to Kevin Sheedy in 1998-99 and as the AFL Players’ Association CEO before returning to club land as National Talent Manager for the Brisbane Lions and Chief Executive of Football Operations for Essendon.

More recently, Rob led the Gisborne Under 18s to back-to-back flags in 2022-23 and is a welcome return to the VAFA, having led Therry Penola to a Premier C flag as player-coach in 2000.

PEGS finished this season in mid-table limbo at 6-12, safely clear of relegation but well off finals pace. They will be looking to bridge the gap to the top teams and insert themselves into the Top 4 mix next season.

PREMIER B

Premier B is shaping up as one of the most competitive sections in 2025. It is stacked with high-quality teams and will have a fascinating coaching merry-go-round as an additional sub-plot, with a couple of high-profile coaches to face their old sides.

Former OLD MELBURNIANS coach Nathan Brown has returned to OMs after previously coaching the club for 8 years from 2012-19. Most recently, Nathan led Old Geelong into the 2024 finals and will return to Elsternwick Park in the hope of once again leading OMs back up to Premier Men’s.

Nathan’s senior co-coach at OLD GEELONG in 2024, Nick Dixon, will become non-playing Senior Coach in 2025 as they look to build on this year’s promising finals campaign.

Paul Satterley is another who will be coaching against his former side in 2025 as he moves from Old Melburnians to CAULFIELD GRAMMARIANS. Paul brings 11 years of VAFA coaching experience with De La Salle, Old Xavs and OMs, plus a further 12 years in the AFL/VFL, WRFL & TAC systems to the Fields as they look to rise back up into Premier B contention after narrowly escaping relegation by less than 2% in 2024.

PREMIER MEN’S

UNIVERSITY BLUES have a new Senior Men’s coach, with Matt Smith appointed after a successful VFL playing career at Collingwood (where he rose to the vice-captaincy) and more recently with local powerhouse Heidelberg as a playing assistant coach.

He joined the Blues as a player in 2024 but unfortunately sustained a season-ending knee injury in his very first contest of the season and has decided to hang up the boots to focus his energies into coaching.

If your club has made a new coach or player signing, let us know via our social media channels or at: [email protected]