Sport
Euroa announces its senior football and netball coaching panel for 2025 Goulburn Valley League campaign
Euroa has anointed its front bench to tackle the 2025 Goulburn Valley League season.
With the news that Magpies’ 2024 senior coach Ryan Pendlebury had furthered his role at North Melbourne and would not continue at Euroa next season, the club has elected a past, proven mentor for the top job.
David Gleeson, who coached Euroa in various stints since the early 2000s, has agreed to come back on board for 2025 while the Magpies seek to appoint a two-term coach for 2026-27.
He’ll be assisted by fellow locals Neale Poole and Chris Burke, who featured when Euroa last won a senior flag in 1990.
Gleeson’s track record includes leading the side to a grand final in 2005 when the Magpies were stopped short by a Seymour outfit that won three flags in a row.
With a glowing track record under his belt, Euroa president Scott Watson was elated to bring Gleeson into the fold for next season.
“Dave is a local fella who is semi-retired; he is a very experienced football person who, after going through our process and having a number of options both local and non-local, the selection panel was at a point where we went and approached Dave,” he said.
“We asked if he would consider holding the reins and accept the role for 12 months, so he’s agreed to do that.
“We’re in the business of trying to recruit coaching staff in two-year appointments, so we’ll be keen to get that process under way next year to recruit for a 2026-27 coach.
“Both locally and outside the town, I think we’ve got some really good, viable options.”
Euroa enjoyed a gallant 2024 campaign, reaching finals under Pendlebury’s stewardship.
The highly-respected playing coach enjoyed two full seasons at the Pies, but was recently recruited by AFL Barwon heavyweight St Mary’s, where he’ll play when available outside of his responsibilities at North Melbourne.
Watson credited Pendlebury for his impact at Euroa, farewelling the Sale native as he departs for a new venture.
“Obviously in an ideal world, we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in recruiting a coach at this time of the year — but to Ryan’s credit, he was offered this opportunity at North Melbourne to go full-time having had a hand in with the women’s footy,” he said.
“He got appointed to that halfway through the year which didn’t impact his commitments with us, but North Melbourne has been able to free up a position with him in the men’s side of things, so it meant he couldn’t commit to the coaching gig at Euroa.
“It was a great opportunity for him and we wish him all the best with that.”
While the senior football back room has had a changing of the guard, it’s steady as she goes on the A-grade netball front.
In this instance, “she” is Ellie Warnock.
Euroa’s gun goal keeper has agreed to sign on for another year as playing coach of the Magpies and, after snapping the club’s 41-year A-grade premiership drought this year, Watson couldn’t be more rapt with the news.
“Ellie, after having coached the side through to that premiership this year, went overseas for a five or six-week period, so we let her be as they say,“ he said.
“It was great to connect with her 10 days ago once she was back in Australia and get her recommitment.
“She’s now busily shoring up the playing and coaching stocks, so (we) expect to announce the remaining senior netball coaching roles as well as the netball players that we know are keen to recommit.”