Leoncini will step aside following the conclusion of the 2021 CHFL season, calling to an end a role which spanned four-years and three seasons.

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Leoncini told The Courier a number of reasons went into his decision to call it quits now.

"You just know when you've got the most out of the group that you've got," he said.

"We sort of hit our peak. Injuries sort of hurt us ... a fair bit this year, but I think where we were sort of (is) the mark where we would have finished, I felt around the eighth to ninth spot with a full, healthy list.

"Then also, as I spoke to the group (about), it's commitment. Commitment's not about training Tuesday (and) Thursday, it's about pre-season, it's about coming out of lockdown.

"I think they've heard the old bloke's voice enough."

He came to the Magpies at the end of the 2017 season, a year in which they won just three games.

2018 and 2019 saw Leoncini lead the Magpies to just one win in each season before COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 season.

He led a much improved Clunes side to its best start to a season since 2005 this year, bursting out of the blocks 4-1 and sitting inside the top four throughout the early stages of the season.

"What I'm really proud of is that I've been able to bring a club up into the top 10 clubs in Central Highlands," Leoncini said.

"Now the club can use that product to sell that to some really good players and really go to the next level."

He added that coaching elsewhere is something he is open to if the right job presented itself.

"I'm just going to let things unfold and see what jobs, if jobs come up," he said.

"I still want to coach, absolutely, I still feel like I have a lot to offer, I'm still very passionate about it, so for me, I'm just going to see what comes up."

Clunes president Brendan Sheehan thanked Leoncini for his commitment to the club.

"The four years Johno's been around, he's been fantastic for the club," he said.

"This year he got a little bit of reward for his hard work over the last three or four years.

"No one's ever faulted Johno's commitment to the club or the amount of time and effort he puts into it."

Sheehan said the club is hoping to have a successor locked in by the end of October at the latest.

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