The Club is excited to confirm that both Senior Coach Matt Richards and Reserves Coach Ned Rowland have re-committed for another season and will continue in their respective roles in 2026.

Matt will enter his fourth year as senior coach in 2026, having delivered finals football for all three of our teams in each of his three seasons as the head of our football program. 2025 has seen the strong results continue while the senior team continues to evolve, with a number of current Under 19 players playing senior football this year. Matt's ability to build relationships with players is clearly a strength and has led to excellent outcomes in player retention and recruitment. Under his guidance, the senior team has shown itself to be capable of matching the league's top teams this season, and we enter a third consecutive finals series confidently.

Ned took the reins of the Reserves squad in 2025 and has led the team to a top-three finish and a finals double chance in his first year. He has balanced this drive for success with the need to prepare players for senior football, juggling considerable change each week as players have moved across all three of our teams. His communication skills have stood out and the strong rapport he has built with his players will serve the team well as we enter the upcoming finals series. 

We thank Matt and Ned for their commitment to Mulgrave and look forward to another strong and enjoyable year in 2026.

Under 19.5 Coach Josh Carden has informed his players and the club that he will not be continuing in the role in 2026.

A former Rovers junior and Mulgrave player, we’re glad to say Josh isn’t going anywhere, but he’s keen to concentrate on his own footy next year and will be taking a step back from coaching.

Josh has done a fantastic job with the Under 19s, first as an assistant coach in 2024 before taking on the main role this season. With the home and away season complete, the team sits second on the ladder with a 12-4 record and will be playing in the Qualifying Final next week. It’s been a season of great results and growth for the Under 19s, who have produced quality performances while having a number of their players away on senior football duties.

It takes considerable commitment to coach any team, and the Under 19 squad is a critical part of our club’s future. A massive thanks to Josh for all his work this year… and it’s not done yet, with the team fighting for a flag over the next month.

Thanks Cards!

The club will begin the search for an Under 19 Coach for 2026, and will make further announcements regarding this in due course.