Ben Tankard thought his opportunity to take on a senior football coaching role for next year had passed.
With most clubs having filled their spots, Tankard thought he would do another year as an assistant coach. But then popped up the Macedon coaching gig.
The role proved to be the right fit, with Tankard appointed senior coach on Saturday.
“Pretty much the last two years I’ve been looking for a senior coaching role,” he said.
“The Macedon job came up and I thought it was a good fit. I enjoyed two years of country football and this is the best of both worlds as I live in Keilor.
“The club has been really professional and seems like a great club that I wanted to be a part of.”
Tankard comes to the Cats having been involved in coaching reserves, juniors and as an assistant for 14 years.
Most of those years came at Essendon Doutta Stars where he also played, before a couple of years in the country.
This year he was an assistant coach to his brother Sam at Taylors Lakes.
Tankard said it was nice walking into a club that was coming off a Riddell District Football League premiership, but it also presented challenges knowing the standard that had been set.
“It’s pretty good, but it will be a tough challenge,” he said.
“It’s good to know I’m walking into a club with a quality core group of senior players.”
At this stage, only two of the premiership side won’t be returning next year. Bowen Medalist and league leading goal kicker Jason Cooke has joined St Albans, while Aaron Christensen has returned to his junior club, Sunbury Lions.
Tankard said they would sit down over the next couple of weeks and look at the playing list to assess where they are at.
He said they would likely target someone to help fill the void left in front of goal.
Despite the late appointment, Tankard said he didn’t think they were that far behind other teams.
And he liked what he saw at the club’s first training session on Monday night.
“Our under-19 team is talented and we will have some of them pressing for spot.
“A lot of the younger guys have the skills and pace that suits our ground.”
