ALL the 2018 Bendigo, Heathcote District and Loddon Valley league senior coaches:
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• BENDIGO LEAGUE
CASTLEMAINE
Derrick Filo – returning for a second season at the Magpies, while overall, it will be his 18th season as a BFL coach following previous stints at Kyneton (1995-99), Kangaroo Flat (2000-02) and Eaglehawk (2003-10).
Of the 10 coaches in the competition next year, Filo will be the only one to have coached a BFNL flag.
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EAGLEHAWK
Josh Bowe – took the Hawks to the grand final in his first season of senior coaching this year.
Will be determined to go one better than this year’s runners-up finish in his second season at the helm at Canterbury Park.
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GISBORNE
Clinton Young – the 2008 Hawthorn premiership player is the new coach at the Bulldogs following Brad Spear’s two years.
Young was an assistant to Spear this year.
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GOLDEN SQUARE
Bernie Haberman – was the winner of AFL Central Victoria’s Senior Coach of the Year Award in his first season at the Bulldogs this year. Continuing on for a second season.
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KANGAROO FLAT
Shawn Filo and Corey Greer – the co-coaches of this year have been reappointed for a second season at Dower Park.
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KYNETON
Luke Beattie – the only current coach in the BFNL who was in the same role in 2015 – albeit taking on the position late that season.
Will be desperate to get past the elimination final hurdle that has brought about the Tigers’ downfall the past three seasons.
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MARYBOROUGH
Ben Lavars – former Werribee VFL player, Geelong Football League Mathieson medallist and Geelong Amateurs captain of the past three years has taken on the big job at Princes Park.
Has filled the vacancy created by the departure of Shane Skontra.
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SANDHURST
Andrew Collins – following in the footsteps of his father, David, who previously coached Sandhurst, including to the 2004 premiership.
Collins has previously coached Bridgewater to Loddon Valley league premierships in 2014-15.
Has taken over from the Dragons’ 2016 premiership coach Wayne Primmer.
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SOUTH BENDIGO
Brady Childs – providing the Bloods with the coaching stability they have been craving.
Next season will be Childs’ third in charge and he has the Bloods headed in the right direction, improving from five wins in his first year in 2016 to nine in 2017.
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STRATHFIELDSAYE
Troy Coates – fair to say he has big shoes to fill given he has assumed the Storm job from three-time premiership coach Darryl Wilson.
However, Coates, a former Eaglehawk player, is no stranger to coaching flags himself – he has coached Kerang to four in the Central Murray league.
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• HEATHCOTE
DISTRICT LEAGUE
COLBINABBIN
Nick Knight – lining up for his third year coaching.
Despite just his third year, Knight will be the longest-serving of the HDFL coaches next year, such has been the recent turnover.
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ELMORE
Danny Brewster – coaching the Bloods for a second season, while it will be his fourth at the club having joined in 2015.
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HEATHCOTE
Luke Bell – continuing in the role for a second year. Bell is a second-generation coach, with his father, Wayne, having also led the Saints, including to the 1992 premiership.
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HUNTLY
Denis Grinton – a blast from the past at the Hawks.
This will be Grinton’s second stint as Huntly coach having previously led the Hawks in 2000 and 2001.
Grinton is the replacement for Jamie Hogan and Ryan Semmel.
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LEITCHVILLE-
GUNBOWER
Michael Pilcher – a new coach for the reigning premiers after Matt Hawken stood down following the Bombers’ grand final win.
Pilcher joined the Bombers this year as an assistant and now gets the opportunity in the top role.
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LBU
Kahl Oliver – no introduction needed given Oliver is a three-time premiership coach at the club having previously led the Cats to their 2011, 2012 and 2013 flags.
He is taking over from Peter Gibbs.
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MOUNT PLEASANT
Darren Walsh – back in the coaching caper at the Blues, who were led this year by Matt Johnson.
The former Bendigo Diggers captain and Golden Square coach was an early appointment in July.
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NORTH BENDIGO
Matt Dillon – spent the past four years coaching Newbridge, but when the Maroons opted to go in a different direction, the Bulldogs were waiting in the wings to pounce on their replacement for Rob Bennett.
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WHITE HILLS
Brent Millar – returned the Demons to the finals in his first season at Scott Street this year and continuing in 2018.
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• LODDON VALLEY
BL-SERPENTINE
Greg Gadsden – from zero wins in 2016 to nine and a finals berth this year, he is continuing in the role for a third season.
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BRIDGEWATER
Dale Cameron – after two years coaching Strathfieldsaye’s reserves, including to the premiership this year, is taking over at the Mean Machine from Marc Lindsay.
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CALIVIL UNITED
Anthony Dennis – the premiership coach of 2017 is returning for a third year. Dennis will be the only coach in the competition next year to have held aloft the LVFL premiership cup.
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INGLEWOOD
Ryan McNish – co-coached the Blues with Jon Starr this year. Will be doing the role on his own next year in what will be his second season back at the club.
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MAIDEN GULLY YCW
Wayne Mitrovic – well-known football identity who has previously coached Macorna for four years. Taking over from Daniel Francis.
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MARONG
Corbin Fleming – stepping up from player to coach following Damien Lock’s two-year stint.
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MITIAMO
Andy Grant – former coach of Elmore between 2009 and 2011 who is the Superoos’ new leader following two years under Justin Maddern. Grant’s father, Bill, coached the Superoos’ last flag in 2009.
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NEWBRIDGE
Brad Comer – long-time Newbridge player who was appointed after Matt Dillon’s four-year stint. Has already had a taste of coaching the Maroons late in 2013 when he was the replacement for the sacked Phil Birchmore.
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PYRAMID HILL
Brad Fawcett and Gavin James – the co-coaches of this year have been reappointed. For Fawcett it will be his third year, while it will be James’ second.