By Tara Murray
Michael Ryan is excited to return to Bundoora and lead the Northern Football League division 1 club into the future.
Ryan, who was part of Bundoora’s 2013 premiership, was announced as the Bulls new coach last week.
He replaces Andrew Sturgess, who has been appointed Coburg’s VFL coach.
Ryan said it was pretty exciting to return to Bundoora.
“I spoke to a few people and they encouraged me to apply for it,” he said.
“I went through the process.
“I have some strong relationships with some people at the club. At the moment, there are a good dozen players still there from 2013.
“I’m really excited about it.”
Since leaving the Bulls, Ryan has coached Lower Plenty and Hurstbridge, while this year was a playing assistant coach at Old Ivanhoe Grammarians in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
He said he would concentrate on coaching next year and would hang up the playing boots.
He said one of the big things about Bundoora was the positive environment that people want to be a part of.
“I’m fortunate to come to a club I already know, which makes it easier,” he said.
“The club has such a proud history and to be able to be part of that history coaching the club, is exciting.
“Anyone who comes to the club speaks highly of the environment and how tight the group is.
“It makes it so much easier, you don’t have to repair any relationships, with all the guys close.”
Ryan has a big job ahead of him, with the Bulls finishing second last and missing finals for the first time in a number of years.
He said it was a position they weren’t used to being in, having been one of the powerhouses of the competition in recent years.
“No one is happy about it and we have a lot of hard work to get back to playing finals footy.
“We know it won’t be easy and there’s a lot of hard work that needs to be done.”
The Bulls also announced the first of their new signings last week, with Kain Proctor and Jai Burns both returning to the club after playing with Fitzroy Stars
this year.
They both played with the Bulls in 2018. Ryan said they weren’t actively looking to add too many players to the squad next year.
“I’ve got an exciting list at my disposal,” he said.
“Any recruits we do get in, we’re getting in for the right reasons and to fill roles.”
