The Burra expects to announce a replacement within a few weeks with a succession plan in place.

Club president Darren Hammill announced Hutchinson's departure to supporters after Saturday's Ballarat Football League grand final loss to East Point.

Burra football manager Shawne Dummett said they had hoped to see him leave as a premiership coach, but it was not to be.

Dummett said Sebastopol had done everything possible to persuade Hutchinson to stay on for a third year, but family and work commitments had to come first.

"He's been incredible. He's done an outstanding job. He took us on when no one else was prepared to do it," he said.

Dummett said Hutchinson had informed the club at the start of the year that this would be his last season, but it had held out hope he might change his mind.

He said his departure was locked in a few weeks ago, with only the player group aware it.

Hammill said Hutchinson wanted to keep the announcement until after Sebastopol's season was completed.

"He didn't want it to be about him."

Hutchinson followed Shane Snibson into the coaching role after the Burra had won just one game in 2017.

With the arrival of a group of ex-North Ballarat VFL players - Tony Lockyer, James Keeble, Lachie Cassidy, Matt Austin and Nick Hausler - after the Roosters folded, Hutchinson led Sebastopol to eight wins last year - just one outside the top six.

With the further addition of the likes of Toby Thoolen and Luke Kiel this season, the Burra won 11 games to finish second to East Point and contest its first finals series since 2000.