Tara Murray
Romsey’s promising young list is what attracted new Redbacks coach Paul Kennedy to the role with the Riddell District Football League club.
Kennedy, who has coached in the Heathcote and Northern Football Leagues, was announced as the Redbacks new coach last week.
He replaces Corey O’Sullivan who stood down as he was unsure whether he would have the time to commit.
Kennedy said he was really excited by the role.
“I’m obviously really looking forward to the role, it will be a bit of a challenge,” he said.
“It’s a bit different for me as most of coaching has been in metro leagues.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Kennedy said the playing group was in the perfect age group to work with and they were looking to build on the last couple of seasons.
The Redbacks made finals in both 2018 and 2019, before the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
“A lot of players are between 22 and 24 and then there’s a few who are about the 27, 28 mark.
“There’s under-19s as well, which is great.
“It’s really promising and I love coaching young people.”
Kennedy has been involved at a number of difference clubs including Northcote Park, Diamond Creek, North Heidelberg and Montmorency.
He was an assistant coach at Airport West in the Essendon District Football League for the 2020 cancelled season.
The Eagles are now looking for a new coach with Jimmy House moving to the VFL in recent weeks.
Kennedy said he was down the track with the interview process with Romsey, when the Eagles touched base with him to apply for the vacant role.
He was soon after appointed the Redbacks coach.
“I learnt a lot under Jimmy House… I’m looking forward to putting it into practice.”
Kennedy has quickly started to get to meeting the playing group ahead of pre-season training starting next week.
He said having not much knowledge of the league, it would be different.
“I’ve done some research on Romsey,” he said.
“When I was an assistant coach at North Heidelberg we played against Diggers Rest.
“I’ve got a lot of learning to do.”
Kennedy said it was too early to tell whether they would look at bringing in a few players through recruiting.
