Lawlor finished as Bulldogs coach

Pell will also finish in the presidential role, as will A-grade netball coach Olivia Jackson.

Pell said the announcements had been made early to give the club plenty of time to find new leaders to take the club into the future.

‘‘We have to keep generating interest in the club and we are putting it out there now that we want and need some fresh faces and fresh blood.’’

Pell said his club was in a very healthy position financially and most of its executive had already committed to going on next season.

‘’The club is already working towards getting the right people to lead it. We are getting in early and we are looking to get the best people to show us the way in the immediate future.’’

Despite its narrow loss to Murchison-Toolamba in the fourth last home-and-away round on Sunday Merrigum is still well in contention to play finals this season.

It currently sits in seventh place on the ladder but has a tough run home.

It has Stanhope at home after the bye this week and then meets Nagambie (away) before finishing off with the second game in the last four rounds against Murchison-Toolamba on its home ground.

Violet Town Football Club is another KDL club getting in early for next season and has named its new coach for the 2023 season.

The Towners have appointed Wally Armstrong as non-playing coach to replace current coach and club legend Sean Horsburgh who is stepping down.

Armstrong is an under-18a Benalla Football Club premiership coach but has been involved in basketball coaching with the Benalla Breakers and Shepparton Gators since 2018.

Armstrong said his main mission stepping back into football coaching would be continuing to build on and nurture the club’s local players.

He currently assists Horsburgh from the sidelines so he will be familiar with the team when he takes the coaching reins next season.