Sport
Euroa seeks new coach for 2025 Goulburn Valley League season after Ryan Pendlebury moves on to role at North Melbourne
Euroa Football Netball Club is on the hunt for a coach after news its current mentor has flown the Magpies’ nest.
Ryan Pendlebury, who took on the job of leading the side in the Goulburn Valley League for 2024, has committed to a position within the AFL landscape.
Midway through the year, Pendlebury stepped in for Brad Murphy at North Melbourne to join the club’s AFLW ranks as midfield coach.
After his role was extended last week, Euroa revealed he wouldn’t return in 2025.
The club will now have to secure its third coach in as many years.
Pendlebury played twice for the Magpies in 2022 before committing full time in 2023, having previously played for Werribee, Port Melbourne and Collingwood in the VFL.
In 2024, the Gippsland native and brother of Pies legend Scott Pendlebury then took the coaching reins at Euroa from Scott Rowan, who had been a part of the club’s senior set-up for the five seasons prior.
He featured as playing coach 17 times during Euroa’s 2024 charge, steering his side to finals before the Magpies bowed out against Rochester in an elimination bout.
The Magpies will either go internally or onto the open market for a new coach for the 2025 campaign.
A statement posted on the club’s social media thanked Pendlebury for his contribution to Euroa.
“On behalf of Euroa FNC, president Scott Watson thanked Ryan for his efforts since being appointed as coach 12 months ago and wished Ryan the very best in the pursuit of the ‘next steps’ in his coaching journey,” it read.
“The football IQ Ryan brought to the role at Euroa FNC has certainly been recognised at the elite level.
“To that end, Euroa FNC has now opened up an expression of interest process for a new coach for season 2025 and beyond.
“Expressions of interest close on Sunday, November 10 at 6pm. The recruitment of a new coach will be swift and thorough with an appointment to occur during November 2024.”
In other GVL movements, Mansfield has continued a heavy recruiting drive by adding another high-profile name to its books.
After reeling in ex-AFL and VFL talent with Callum Brown and Mitch Lewis committing to life in the high country, Nick Gray is the next man to be locked in for 2025.
Gray is a former Mansfield player and lands at the Eagles’ nest from Eastern Football League outfit Blackburn, having also played five seasons for Collingwood in the VFL.
Shepparton Swans have beamed in fresh blood from Kyabram District League, picking up Adam Fichera from Shepparton East and Jonathan Moore from Nagambie.
On the netball front, Shepparton A-grade coach Stacey Thompson has passed the baton to gun shooter and 2024 Wellman medallist Kim Borger.
Borger boasts Super Netball experience, is widely renowned as one of the premier players in the GVL and brings a strong netball brain to the role.
Finally, Benalla has also locked in a new A-grade leader for next season with Jo Toms stepping aside to allow Chloe Hill a shot at coaching in 2025.