Former Newtown & Chilwell coach Damien McMahon has been tasked with reviving the on-field fortunes of Bellarine club Ocean Grove.
McMahon, who is currently serving as an assistant coach under Grubbers icon Mark Neeld at GFNL club South Barwon, arrives at Ray Menzies Oval on a multi-year deal.
He replaces the Dave Farrell-Nick Bourke combination, who were informed in mid-July that their contract wouldn’t be renewed.
“Ocean Grove has a proud history, passionate people and a strong sense of community,” McMahon said in a statement provided to K rock Football.
“I’m excited by the opportunity to work with this talented playing group and the wider club to build on the foundations already in place.
“I look forward to getting started, meeting everyone involved and working hard to achieve success together.”
McMahon’s coaching resume is one of the region’s most impressive.
His eight years at Newtown & Chilwell, where he also played 120 games in the 1990s and early 2000s, followed an extended stint in Western Australia.
McMahon had four years as coach of WAFL club Perth, where he was also an assistant coach and Colts coach,
He was the High-Performance Manager at Claremont for two seasons, while at the local level he guided Northam Railways to two premierships in the Avon Football Association.
“Damien impressed us with his vision for the Senior Football program, his coaching experience and his genuine passion for developing players and building a strong, connected culture,” president Greg Mervin said.
“We believe he is the right person to lead our Senior Football program and help drive continued improvement across the entire club.
“We are excited to welcome Damien, his wife Narelle and two sons Tom and Sam to the Grubbers.”
Ocean Grove finished 2026 in 10th position with only three wins, the club’s lowest number of victories since joining the Bellarine as a foundation club in 1971.
It followed the Grubbers’ first wooden spoon since the competition’s inaugural year in 2025.
They last played finals in 2021, but their five wins in 2023 are their best return since then.
However, it owns the largest junior program of any club in the region.
Its under-18 team played in last year’s AFL Barwon Division 1 grand final and has booked another finals appearance this season.
X: @krockfootball
