Tara Murray
New Romsey coach Nathan Blair said he’s honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the Riddell District Football League club.
The Redbacks announced that Blair would step up into the coaching role after Justin Sherman departed the club for other opportunities.
Blair said it was an exciting opportunity for him.
“The club came and asked me and I had a bit of a think and thought we’ll give it a go,” he said. “It got to the end of this year, Justin told us that he was parting ways with the club and they said they were after a coach and to have a think.
“Sat down and had a thought for a couple of weeks and come to the decision that I’ll give it a go.”
Blair said he was honoured that the club thought he was the best person for the job and the bloke to hopefully take them to the success they want as a club.
“It means a lot to be honest.”
Blair played his junior football at the club before going off and playing in the Victorian Football League for five seasons.
He came back to the Redbacks for the 2019 season and has been one of the competition’s best players since.
Blair said in that time there had been real focus on building the culture at the club.
“Since I’ve come back the club has always been great,” he said. “After Covid we started a bit more fresh and a few younger guys.
“From that, the buy-in from everyone… If you have a look at our list we haven’t lost too many over the journey.
“That was a big thing for me with deciding to take the role was we have this list that has probably been together for three years now and the young ones are really starting to hit their straps.
“We’ve still got a good core of older people but it’s the time for the young ones to take over.”
Blair said he hadn’t seen any of his teammates since the announcement, but said there had been a lot of support on social media.
He said it makes him feel like he’s made the right decision with the support from the group.
“Hopefully we can do something pretty special in the next year or so,” he said. “We can set something up for next to come and we can be a successful club the next era.
“That is the plan from there.”
Blair said the club was going through the re-signing phase with the playing group.
They announced the re-signings of two of their biggest names in Jack Jedwab and Corey Pertzel during the week.
Blair said they were expecting to keep most of their list.
“It is huge for us,” he said. “Jack being at VFL level, he has to make a decision if he wants to have another go at that.
“The pre-season and time he has put in at VFL-level he has gone to another level after being so dominant last year.
“Corey Pertzel, he is one of those young ones that stepped up two-three years ago and he’s just getting better and better.
“He’s only 21 and has a club B and F.”
