Goonan has informed the club of his desire to leave the position at the end of the 2017 Central Highlands Football League season, which was his second in charge.

The 40-year-old said he and the club were heading in different directions and felt it was best to step down from the role.

Goonan said given how little the club spends on its football department, it was better off using the money it pays for a coach to find one that could also play.

“That’s a player’s wage so why not try to get a player out of it if you possibly can?” he said.

Goonan said while he was in the game of coaching to win premierships, he felt Daylesford was positioned much better than when he took on the job prior to the 2016 season.

He took charge after the senior team – under the leadership of Joel Adams – finished 14^th in 2015. That was the first time the side had missed out on reaching finals since joining the competition.

From there, the Bulldogs won through to a preliminary final in 2016 and look likely to make another finals appearance this year.

“You only coach to win flags, that’s how you are judged and I haven’t managed to win any so I probably have fallen short on that mark,” he said.

“I think I leave the club in a better situation than when I found it and that’s no disrespect to the people that went before me.”

Goonan said he had promised his wife he would take next season away from football, but admitted he was open to looking at another role in the game.

Daylesford president Guy McLeod said he was thankful for Goonan’s efforts in getting the club back into finals football.

“He developed a young side into a side that’s moving forward and will hopefully become a force within the Central Highlands league,” McLeod said.