By Nick Creely
The Doveton Football Netball Club is on the hunt for a new senior coach, with the Doves parting ways with club great and 2019 premiership coach Daniel Charles.
The decision was made after undertaking a mid-year coaching review in what was a tough 2021 season on-field where the Doves finished bottom of the table in the AFL Outer East Premier Division with just the one win.
Charles coached the Doves to stunning premiership glory in 2019 in the inaugural season of AFL Outer East, taking the club from a winless 2018 to the ultimate prize in one of the most memorable years in the club’s illustrious history.
On that golden day, 22 September 2019, the Doves defeated great rivals Pakenham at the Woori Yallock Football Ground in an absorbing grand final, 9.7 (61) to 8.7 (55).
He coached the club for four seasons having been a champion player for the club.
In the aftermath of that famous day in 2019, an emotional Charles told the Gazette about the culture he’s worked so hard to instill in his group.
“We set out to try and get as many young kids to the club, and good quality senior players that were great people, and that’s what we did,” he said.
“The tightness of this group is a credit to the people we got down to the club, because they actually care about their teammates, and that was the message we’ve pushed since I’ve got here.”
But the Doves will now look for a new face to lead the club moving forward, with the club beginning the process of searching for their new coach.
“Parting company with Daniel in his senior coaching tenure after his long and distinguished association with the Doveton FNC was never going to be an easy choice for either party,” the club said in a statement.
“Daniel has always been keen to promote and develop the youth of the club and we thank him for this and for his guidance and leadership from 2018 until now.
“The Club would like to thank Daniel on behalf of everyone associated with the Doveton FNC for his contribution to the Doves over the past four seasons as the head coach. Daniel will forever be entrenched in Doveton Club history as a senior premiership coach.
“We wish Daniel the very best in his future endeavours.”
