New Roxburgh Park coach Michael Farrelly is ready to help the club move forward and put a tough 12 months behind it in the Essendon District Football League.
Farrelly was last week announced as coach of the division 2 club, replacing Travis McCarty who stood down after a season in the job. McCarty took on the role just weeks out from the start of the season, after Paul Derrick resigned.
Injuries and players travelling overseas played a big part in the Magpies missing finals this year – the first time in three seasons.
Farrelly said he was excited to get down to business and help the club become a powerhouse.
“The biggest thing for me is my brother and some guys I grew up with either play or are involved in the club,” he said.
“I saw the club come off a grand final last year and have an uncharacteristic finishing position this year. There’s reasons for that, but they’re not excuses.
“The club hit rock bottom … I think I can help turn it around quickly, I don’t think we’re that far off the mark.”
Farrelly comes to the Magpies from Northern Football League division 1 club Hurstbridge. He was playing assistant coach in Hurstbridge’s division 2 flag in 2016.
He was also part of two NFL division 1 premierships with Bundoora and spent three years playing VFL with Coburg.
He’s hoping to bring some higher level experience to the Magpies.
“The professionalism improved greatly during my tenure at Hurstbridge, which bridged the gap enormously between the division one sides.”
“I’m going to have structures in place so the club can grow from there.
“I want to set standards high and the players know where the bar is at.”
Farrelly, 30, said he was looking to bring some outside help to the coaching panel, but was keen to keep all of this year’s coaching panel involved at the club.
He said at this stage he would just be a coach, not a playing coach.
“I’m looking to keep fit and I’ll do preseason with the boys and see how it pans out. If I can contribute as both a coach and player, I’ll think about playing.”
He said he would meet with the leadership group in the coming weeks to discuss recruitment.
Farrelly said his aim was to make the club a powerhouse on and off the field.
“I want to get everyone involved, not just the players.”
