Howlong coach Beau Packer will step down at the end of the season

Packer informed the playing group on Tuesday night that he would be ending his two year tenure.

He replaced Joel Price at the helm and finished eighth last season.

The Spiders are ninth with a 6-8 record with four rounds remaining.

Packer said the time was right for a fresh approach.

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"Obviously I haven't achieved what I would have liked to over the course of the last two years," Packer said.

"So I think the time is right for me to move on and the club get someone with fresh ideas.

"It's disappointing to miss out on finals for a second year in-a-row.

"My focus is to finish the season off as strongly as possible and hopefully we can pinch at least three more wins."

Packer said the development of several of the kids who had emerged through the junior ranks had been one of the biggest positives.

"A few of the young blokes have stood up over the past two years and gone ahead in leaps and bounds," he said.

"Ben Baker has gone to another level this season and has really benefited from playing in the midfield alongside blokes the calibre of Peter Hancock, Steve Jolliffe and Matt McDonald.

"Blake Williams in my eyes, is a fantastic young footballer, is a great captain and leader around the club and has done a great job.

"He has really matured as both a footballer and as a person."

Packer also paid tribute to the contribution of assistant coach Jolliffe and McDonald.

"I had a lot of help since I arrived at the club," he said.

"Steve Jolliffe and Matt McDonald have been a massive help.

"The group as a whole have been a great bunch of blokes and I have really enjoyed my time at Howlong."

Despite not having as much success on the field as he hoped for, Packer said he still enjoyed the challenge of coaching.

"It's a tough gig but I love coaching," he said.

"But at the end of the day you are judged by the number of wins and losses.

"We have lost three games by a combined total of 10 points.

"Win those three and we would be sitting inside the top-six but it is what it is I suppose."

Packer, who joined Howlong after an assistant coaching role at Wodonga Raiders is keen to stay involved in coaching in the future.

"I'm keen to stay involved in football in some capacity," he said.