Tara Murray
New Lancefield coach Ryan O’Meara has found his love for coaching again.
The Tigers announced that O’Meara, a multiple premiership player at the club, would coach the Riddell District Football League club next season.
He was one of two assistant coaches that stepped up into the role this year after Tim Bannan stepped down.
“It is very exciting to be coaching again, it has been a long time in between stints at Lancefield,” he said.
“But being assistant for the last two years has really reignited the love I have for the place and the people that are involved at the club.”
O’Meara said being a senior coach hadn’t been on his radar in recent times. He had coached the club back in 1997-98 when he was still playing.
“I helped a good friend of mine coach an under-17 team pre-Covid and have always been passionate about developing younger players as they are really the future of football clubs,” he said.
“That probably gave me the urge to get back involved but it wasn’t until the last six-seven games of this year that I realised I wanted to throw my hat in the ring for next year.
“I decided to take it on because I have really enjoyed the relationships that I have started to form with the core group of players and want to see them improve and to start to enjoy some on field success.”
O’Meara said he didn’t want to shake things up too much and that he wanted to continue to develop the club’s younger players.
He said he wants to challenge them to give a little more in terms of pre-season, preparation and to not just accept being competitive.
O’Meara takes on a side that had a tough 2024. The club didn’t win a game.
“Injuries cruelled us at times which also hurt our under-19s and our reserves but a lot of clubs had the same issue,” he said.
“We had 43 players play senior footy this year. The reserves were really competitive at times and our under-19s had a couple wins, the first being a real drought breaker.
“The seniors were at times really competitive, we lost three games by less than a goal and were in a lot of games for a half or so. That’s the challenge, to play the four quarters and not just moments in games.”
O’Meara said they had some good young players coming through the ranks and the challenge for them was to develop them, while trying not to rush them.
He said they believe at least 10-12 will be good senior footballers.
The club is also talking to recruits.
“We are talking to potential recruits but we are also very aware that we have to bring the right people into the club. We are wanting players that will fit in, commit to training and want to help the club build to some success,” he said.
“Not just a short term fix, but sustained success.”
