VFL Coaching Panel locked in for 2026

03/10/2025

The Sandringham Football Club is pleased to announce the panel of coaches who will assist VFL Senior Coach Daniel Ward in season 2026.

Our coaching panel will consist of three assistant coaches - Andy Farrall, Nathan Brown and Paul McCormack - and two development coaches - Michael Kinsella and Stuart Dempster.

Andy Farrall - Assistant Coach

Farrall joined the Zebras in 2021 and has committed his time to both our VFL and VFLW programs ever since. He has held the position of Backline Coach in our men's program, whilst working with our VFLW program as a development coach in 2022 and 2023 before moving into a backline coaching role with our VFLW side in 2024. In 2025, Farrall stepped into the role of VFLW Midfield Coach and continued working with our men's program as a development coach.

Farrall is also a former VFL Assistant Coach at the Box Hill Hawks under Max Bailey.

He was awarded the Eric Mackenzie Memorial Trophy for Best Club Person in 2023 and the VFLW Extra Mile Award in 2025, a credit to his hard work and expertise. 

Nathan Brown - Assistant Coach

Brown was drafted to Melbourne FC in 1997 from West Adelaide in the SANFL. In his 11 years at Melbourne, he played 17 games with the Zebs through the alignment. 

In 2008, Brown returned to West Adelaide as a playing coach in the backline, then moved back to Melbourne as a playing coach for Cheltenham (SFNL) where he made a Prelim Final. 

He went on to coach the Old Melburnians (VAFA) for eight years and was named VAFA Coach of the Year in 2017. Under Brown's leadership, the team made the 2015 Premier B Grand Final and as a result, were promoted to the Premier division. Alongside his Old Melburnians role, Brown was also a line coach at Western Bulldogs AFLW in 2017 and worked in recruitment at the Gold Coast SUNS during the Covid period. 

Ahead of the 2020 season, he made the move to Old Geelong (VAFA) where he coached for five seasons. During this time, he coached the team to a Grand Final that saw them promoted and made Premier B Finals for the first time in the club's 70-year history.

Brown returned to Old Melburnians (VAFA) in 2025 and now joins the Zebs ahead of the 2026 season. 

"I'm excited and grateful to return to Sandy with my family - wife Tamara and three sons, Kynan, Jake and Ryder - under an outstanding human and super coach Daniel Ward," says Brown.

Paul McCormack - Assistant Coach

McCormack is a former AFL/SANFL player turned coach, mentor and educator. His playing career spanned between 1988 and 2000 during which he played at North Melbourne, Dandenong, Carlton and Norwood (SANFL), where he won the Fos Williams Medal in 1998.

McCormack then moved into coaching, leading East Ringwood (EFL, 2006–09) and Old Brighton (VAFA, 2010–11), then serving as an assistant coach at Oakleigh Chargers and Sandringham Dragons. He later took up the senior coaching role at Bayswater Football Club, guiding them to an EFL 2nd Division Premiership in 2016. McCormack went on to coach Edithvale-Aspendale in the MPFL. In 2025, McCormack became the Head Coach of St Bedes/Mentone U19 Premier in the VAFA.

Outside of football, he dedicates much of his time to youth development and education in his role as a teacher and wellbeing professional at Parkdale Secondary College. McCormack has also overseen the Elite Sports Program (AFL Academy) at Parkdale Secondary College for 15 years.

Michael Kinsella - Development Coach

Kinsella has been part of Murrumbeena Football and Netball Club's coaching staff since 2022, and over the past four seasons has played a key role in guiding the club’s rise from Division 3 to Division 1.

As Senior Coach in 2024, he led Murrumbeena to break a 21-year Premiership drought, achieving a historic milestone as the first club in Southern Football Netball League (SFNL) history to secure Premierships in the seniors, reserves, thirds, and under-19s in the same season.

Kinsella was awarded the 2024 SFNL Division 2 Senior Coach of the Year and is a ⁠Level 3 “Gold” Accredited Coach.

As a player, Kinsella came through the Sandringham Dragons program and as a senior player has featured in over 200 senior games across both the VAFA and SFNL competitions.

Stuart Dempster - Development Coach

Dempster is a highly credentialled Level 3 Coach with experience across all levels of male and female football.

He has a highly decorated football career bringing with him over 250 games, some of which include VFL and VFA and over 100 games as a senior coach, assistant coach as well as a playing coach. He’s also had football roles which include Director of Coaching.

Dempster has been part of a number of grand finals as a player and coach and was the recipient of two league best and fairest medallions throughout his playing career.

He has also been a Development Coach with the St Kilda Football Club Next Gen Academy and the Elite Pathway program as well as an Interleague Coach. More recently, Dempster joined the coaching staff at the Zebs during the 2025 season and will continue to be a valuable part of our coaching panel.

“My philosophy surrounding coaching is built on fostering an environment which enables players to feel supported and given every opportunity to become the best possible version of themselves as players and individuals,” says Dempster.