Chris Moore will extend his tenure as coach of Inverleigh for at least another year after re-signing for the 2025 season.
However, the 2023 premiership mentor will likely have a new co-pilot, with star forward Dalton Grundell stepping down after just one year in the role.
Moore confirmed on K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast he will continue in the position he’s held since the middle of last year when he replaced Adam Donohue in the top job.
“Great support from the president, Wayne McMeekin,” Moore said.
“We’ve had a couple of conversations over the last few weeks, and we announced it to the club last Thursday night.
“I’m excited to be going around again.”
Moore said work commitments made it hard for Grundell, whose season was prematurely ended by injury, to continue as co-coach.
“Unlike me, he’s got to answer to a boss and work to a clock,” Moore said.
“Someone in his age bracket, and (with) interest rates and everything the way it’s going, he’s the opportunity for a lot of overtime in the job he does.
“He will still be part of the coaching group but not as co-coach.”
Moore, who previously coached Anakie for four seasons and had a caretaker role at Winchelsea in 2021, said he is keen to continue to share the role.
“I really do enjoy co-coach. I think the job is big enough for two, especially at local level,” he said.
“There’s so much to do. I’m lucky I can answer my phone and do stuff during the day.
“But, sometimes, there’s just not enough hours in the day.
“If I take an assistant coach and they’re doing the same amount of work as me, I think we should be co-coaches and get some respect for that.”
Despite its premiership defence struggling to get out of first gear, Inverleigh remains within striking distance of the top five.
Three wins in the final four rounds, which include meetings with lowly Corio, Geelong West and Anakie, could be enough for an elimination final berth.
However, Moore isn’t looking beyond a crucial meeting with fourth-placed Thomson tomorrow (Saturday).
“We’ve still got our destiny in our own hands; we’ve just got to keep winning games of footy – it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“Reality is, we’re not playing well enough at the moment.
“We have to play some better footy and challenge for more in games instead of just patches.”
Inverleigh has made two changes, with premiership duo Nathan Mayes and Jake Templeton replacing injured pair Fin O’Keefe and Mitch Bartlett.
The Tigers have welcomed back Regan Kerslake and Jackson Macleod for Jack Stoneham and Jackson Hobbs.
GDFNL: AT SELECTION – ROUND 15
If losing big man Kieran Fulton under concussion protocols wasn’t bad enough for Bannockburn, injury looks set to sideline Luke Bowdern for the remainder of the home-and-away season.
The Tigers, who have announced the re-signing of coach Ron Pilgrim for the 2025 season, confirmed damage to a finger suffered in last week’s loss to Thomson is worse than a straight dislocation.
They will also be without captain Tristan Battaglia for the crucial clash with North Geelong at Victoria Park.
The Tigers will unveil another teenage debutant, with Rory Harding joining brother Brodie and Bailey Rathje as the three inclusions.
The Magpies will be without Charlie Smith until 2025 after he suffered a fractured back in the Round 14 win over Winchelsea.
He’s been replaced by Zac Schwennesen.
After kicking two crucial goals in his first senior game since 2019, 43-year-old Derek Fitzsimmons has retained his spot.
Three players will be sidelined with minor injuries as East Geelong chases a 14th-consecutive victory against Corio at Shell Reserve.
Jack Beardsell (corky), Billy Andrew (ankle) and Ben Crombie (hand) are facing 1-2 weeks on the sidelines, with Jayden Fanning managed.
Captain John McIntyre returns from a concussion, with Sam King, Bailey Payne and Ben Flintoff promoted from the reserves.
For Flintoff, it’s his first senior game since Round 3.
The Devils have replaced Trent Smith (back) with Logan Dixon.
Belmont Lions have made three changes for its tricky meeting with Anakie at Anakie Reserve.
Dylan Piazza will be sidelined with a hamstring issue, Mikali Harrison’s being managed, and Bailey Trevorrow is unavailable.
Junior product David Sanzaro will finally make his senior debut after being a late withdrawal from the win over Corio.
Ben McPherson will return from injury, and Matthew Ludbrook has been recalled from the reserves.
The Roos have lodged an unchanged lineup to the one that lost to Werribee Centrals last week.
Winchelsea welcomes back star midfielder Cassidy Parish among four changes for its last roll of the dice meeting with Werribee Centrals.
A win at Eastern Reserve would keep the Blues’ mathematical finals hopes alive.
Jordan Huff is back for his first senior game since Round 9, Oliver Mahncke his first since Round 12, and Kai Copland his first since Round 5 last year.
They replace Brayden O’Hanlon (calf), Jack Harcoan (unavailable), Jackson Timms, and Reuben James.
The Centurions have listed playing coach Rhyce Prismall as an out, along with Bryce Linehan-Cunningham and Brodie Taylor.
They’ve been replaced by Harly Kilby, Ethan Gibson, and Daniel Stoios.
Bell Post Hill has named Tanner Martin and Sam Harmer as the replacements for the unavailable Henry Verschuren and omitted Mitch Miller ahead of its clash with Geelong West on Sunday.
The clash between the lowly Panthers and Giants at West Oval starts at 1:15pm.
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