Football
7 April, 2026
WFNL 2026 preview: Moore commits to Dimboola for another season
It's nearly 400km from the centre of Adelaide to Dimboola.
But that distance doesn't matter for the coach of the Dimboola football senior side, Andrew Moore, who said he had always had a strong appreciation for country footy.
"Clubs in these environments are built around people who genuinely live and breathe the game, with a deep love for both football and the community that surrounds it," Moore said.
"After coming out of the SANFL system, the opportunity at Dimboola offered more than just a playing role – it presented a chance to immerse myself in a strong community while beginning to develop my coaching journey.
"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Dimboola so far and am really looking forward to the 2026 season."
As an AFL player, Moore played with Port Adelaide from 2010 to 2015 before spending the 2016 season with Richmond.
"I then played with Box Hill in the VFL from 2017 to 2019, where I was captain in 2018 and 2019 and was part of the 2018 premiership team," Moore added.
"More recently, I played with North Adelaide in the SANFL from 2020 to 2023, before playing with Dimboola across the 2024 and 2025 seasons."
Moore juggles his commitments with Dimboola with work, being employed within the SANFL in the juniors space to manage and oversee their competition.
"This includes co-ordinating approximately 400 games each weekend and supporting around 13,000 participants," he said.
Moore's first assistant coaching gig for footy came at the Roos in 2024 before he stepped into the senior role the following season.
Since then he has developed his coaching style, which has been shaped by the range of coaches and environments he has experienced during his career.
"Working under various coaching styles has allowed me to identify what best engages players and helps build strong, connected groups," Moore said.
"I coach in an authentic and relationship-driven manner, with a strong emphasis on trust, communication and a genuine desire to improve.
"By building meaningful relationships I aim to create an environment where players feel comfortable being themselves.
"This encourages growth, accountability and, ultimately, strong on-field performance."
With Moore based in Adelaide, communication within the coaching group also has to be on point – something the coach said had developed into a strong connection built around consistent and open communication.
He added that the assistant coaches, along with himself, were extremely clear on their respective roles and strengths.
"And we work collaboratively with the shared goal of getting the best out of the playing group," he said.
"Naturally there are challenges with me living in Adelaide during the week, which makes alignment and communication even more important.
"(Assistant coaches) Dean (Toet) and Matt (Everett) play a crucial role in delivering training on the ground, reinforcing our standards and focus areas and providing regular feedback.
"This ensures the club, coaching group and playing group remain aligned and moving in the same direction despite the distance."
Last season there were just a few points that separated the club and a preliminary final, with the side bowing out against Nhill in a semi, 9.9 (63) to 10.7 (67).
As he reflected on that game, Moore said after giving their opposition a six-goal head-start in the first quarter, they were playing catch-up almost from the outset.
"Ultimately they managed the conditions better than we did, particularly in the crucial moments," Moore said.
"That said, I was extremely proud of our playing group.
"Coming within four points demonstrated their resilience, belief and determination to never give up throughout the game."
Determined not to have history repeat this year, the coach said the club had placed a strong emphasis on developing and reinforcing its game plan while also improving communication and leadership both off and on the field.
He added that this would ensure the group was well prepared to compete consistently the entire season.
Dimboola have recently announced Lachlan Mackley, Mitch O'Donnell and Simon Hobbs will be lining up for them again this season, and Moore said they all played a big role in 2025 for the team.
Dimboola doesn't kick off their season until April 18, a couple of weeks after the fixture starts with the Good Friday game, but when they do take to the field they will be ready and raring after months of preseason work.
"We commenced training in early December with players eager to get back on the track," Moore said.
"Following the changes implemented by the coaching group in 2025 we'll continue to refine our systems, develop individual and team skills, and strengthen cohesion within the team to ensure we are well prepared for the season ahead."