After a couple of years away from football, Kevin Fitzgerald was starting to get itchy feet … he wanted to return to coaching.
So the former Gisborne coach and Riddell District Football League premiership coach decided the top job at Rupertswood would suit him perfectly, and he will take it on in 2016.
“My boys have always played against Rupertswood, and they’ve impressed me with how they ran their junior club and the number of juniors who have come through,” Fitzgerald said last week.
“I know one of the Rupertswood coaches, and we were talking. I thought this role would suit me. I like having young talent available and being able to teach them.”
Having taken his first training session last week, Fitzgerald is happy with what he’s seen.
He adds that the biggest change in the competition in his time away is its improved standard.
Fitzgerald is optimistic about what the Sharks can achieve in the next few years.
This year, they finished third on the ladder only to be knocked out in the first week of finals.
“If we can keep most of the kids, we can have a really good RDFL side,” the coach said.
“The senior side is a relatively young team, which is even better. Some of the older blokes might think that they are running out of time to win a premiership, but I think we can have success straight away.
“They did a lot right under Ben [Jordan], and he did a good job. You can’t write off a team after one bad game [the final].”
The Sharks will have two major outs next season, with former captains Leigh Brennan and Mitch Gaunt heading to St Albans in the Western Region Football League.
“Leigh’s brother plays at St Albans and so do a few other ex-Rupertswood boys,” Fitzgerald said.
“Both have given a lot to the club, and it’s disappointing that they are leaving.”
Fitzgerald said they would most likely look within the club to replace Brennan.
Cameron McRorie, who led the Sharks’ goal- kicking this season, is now training with VFL side Coburg.
“Cam has enough ability to play VFL,” Fitzgerald said. “There will be lots of opportunities for players to play seniors.”
The Sharks are looking to add a couple of players this off-season after not recruiting anyone last time around.
On Monday night, they announced that Romsey premiership captain Steve Burlak had joined the club.
