Justin Abrams informed the club that he couldn't continue the senior coaching role beyond this season because of work commitments.

Abrams had taken over the position from Ben Lavars at the end of the 2019 season.

After missing the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Abrams' first year in charge in 2021 has been a rough one for the Pies.

The senior team lost some of its best talent to injuries and has won just one of its 11 BFNL games.

"Justin originally indicated that he would keep going as coach, but work commitments have him tied up,'' Maryborough president Brendan Roughead said.

"We're advertising the position and we'll get a new coach for 2022.

"We're open to all avenues. Justin was a non-playing coach, Ben Lavars before him was a playing coach and prior to that Shane Skontra was a non-playing coach.

"All three of those coaches have been good for us and provided something different for us.

"Justin introduced some tactical things that the players have benefitted from. It's been unfortunate that because of injuries we haven't been able to capitalise on what he introduced."

The injury curse has made it tough for the Pies to field a full complement of reserves players.

The recent COVID-19 lockdown hasn't helped either as players lose motivation to pull the boots on again.

Maryborough is scheduled to travel to Dower Park to play Kangaroo Flat when the BFNL season resumes next Saturday.

"The seniors will be no worries, but it will continue to be tough to fill the reserves,'' Roughead said.

"We've had seven senior players suffer season-ending injuries and a couple more in the reserves.

"It's been one of those years where we've been cruelled by injuries."

The Magpies' top half a dozen players are as talented as any group in the competition.

Read more: BFNL club wipes off debt

Getting the senior coaching appointment right is vital, so that the Pies' elite group return in 2022.

"We want to get a coach in place and get our players on board,'' he said.

"They all want to know who the coaching is going to be.

"We're confident that the core group will stick together."

Confidence continues to build at Princes Park that the club's under-18 drought could be over.

"We're very hopeful we'll get an under-18 team up and running next year,'' Roughead said.

"We have someone who is interested in coaching the group and we have a dozen players coming up from our under-16 team.

"We haven't had under-18s for five or six years, so that would be big for us."

Read more: Catch up on the latest local footy news

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