Meet Our Coaching Staff
Gary “Willo” Wilson
Director of Coaching
Eastern Warriors
“Willo” is a legend in Victorian Masters Football, bringing a lifetime of club and footy knowledge to the Warriors.
Sue Emery
Head Coach
Womens Non Contact
Sue is a much-respected coach, winner of the 2024 Vic Metro Womens Coach of the Year, and has pioneered the Warriors style of Womens Non-Contact.
Chris “Magoo” Riley
Head Coach
Mens Over 55s
Chris “Magoo’ Riley is an experienced, knowledgeable coach with a great passion for Masters football and an exceptional head of hair.
Peter Byrne
Co-Coach
Mens Over 35s
Peter has ten seasons as a coach, including three coaching Eastern Districts masters teams, bringing a wealth of footy knowledge.
Michael “Pogs” Pogrzeba
Co-Coach
Mens Over 35s
Pogs has more than 50 years of footy and loads of Masters experience with a strong coaching pedigree. He’ll bring leadership and new energy to the 35s.
Theo Zaharopoulos
Co-Coach
Over 50s
With 10 seasons coaching at senior level, 5 coaching juniors and over 200 games played with one premiership, Theo is looking to improve the group and build wins.
Kaine Johnston
Co-Coach
Over 50s
Kaine has been a positive presence at the Warriors for years, assisting coaches across all teams and now gets to work with Theo focusing on developing the Over 50s.
The Eastern Warriors Teams
Mens Over 35s
The Eastern Warriors Mens Over 35s team competes in the Vic Metro League. There are 10 games per season, spaced approximately two weeks apart.
We play five home games per season at Edinburgh Reserve, with formal training every Wednesday starting with pre-season in mid-November.
All skill levels are welcome, including those brand new to footy, and we are regularly recruiting players. If you’re looking to scratch that itch, the Warriors has a place for you.
Mens Over 50s
The Eastern Warriors Mens Over 50s team also competes in the Vic Metro League. As with the 35s, we play 10 games per season with five of those at home at Edinburgh Reserve.
The Over 50s is very much about footy for fun – fitness and skill helps, but don’t think you need to be in peak shape to get a game.
Again, we welcome players of all levels of skill including beginners, and you’ll love knowing the defibrillator is always full charged.
Mens Over 55s
Welcome to Jurassic Park.
The Warriors Mens Over 55s team launched in 2025 and kicked off in style, celebrating with an inaugural first round win.
The Over 55s epitomises social football for fun, played at the pace and standard you would expect.
It is the perfect transition from your footy career into the afterlife.
Womens Non-Contact
The Eastern Warriors has largely pioneered the Over 35s Womens Non-Contact format, where mature women can experience competitive football without the physicality of the contact variety.
Played on a smaller field, the women generally play every second Saturday throughout the season, with training held at Edinburgh Reserve every Wednesday evening from 6.30pm.
