Tara Murray
New Spotswood coach Steve O’Bryan was looking to get back into coaching, but coaching the Woodsmen wasn’t on his radar.
Having decided to finish up his playing career, after coming out of retirement this season, O’Bryan was starting to plan for the future.
Living on the east side of the city, he was starting to look at coaching roles at clubs that side of the city.
But when a conversation came up with Spotswood, where he had been playing, it was too hard to turn down the role.
“I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed my time there as a player and I’m excited to see how it goes as a coach.”
O’Bryan retired at the end of 2022 but had an itch to return this season. With injuries taking their toll, he knew half way through the season his playing days were over.
He played seven senior games this season, kicking 10 goals.
Returning to coaching then became his focus.
With Tom German moving on as Spotswood coach after two seasons, the Woodsmen mentioned the role to O’Bryan and it snowballed pretty quickly.
O’Bryan said coaching somewhere he had been playing gives him a good head start.
“The players know who I am and what I’m about,”he said. “I don’t have to start from scratch.”
O’Bryan previously coached at Pakenham and Kilcunda Bass.
He spent seven years as a senior coach and coached two premiership. He had also played in the Victorian Football League.
O’Bryan stopped coaching in 2018 due to factors outside football and was content finishing his playing days as just a player.
With life settling down, he now has the opportunity to get back into coaching.
O’Bryan takes on the role as the Woodsmen missed finals this season.
After making finals for 20 years straight, the club hasn’t made them since 2019.
O’Bryan said he would continue to back in the home grown talent and develop them surrounded by some more experienced wise heads.
“Spotty is a proud club with a rich history,” he said. “We want to get as deep as we can.
“With a bit of hard work and clear direction on how we want to play, I don’t think we’re far away.
“It’s a good group of players. People stay at Spotty for a long time.
“We’re in a position to improve.”
