New Sunbury Jets’ Big V men’s coach Ryan Addison is looking forward to the challenge of helping the Jets rise up the ladder.
Several high quality applicants applied for the role, but the Jets decided the right person was already at the club, appointing Addison who was an assistant coach this year..
It will be Addison’s second year at the club, having come across from Hume City Broncos with this year’s coach Lanard Copeland.
Addison’s knowledge of the club’s vision, values and strategic plan played a major role in his appointment.
“I can’t wait to get started,” he said last week.
“This was too good an opportunity to turn down.”
The appointment is his first senior coaching role, although he has long been involved in Big V clubs.
Addison has spent time at Werribee Devils, Hume City Broncos and the Jets as both a coach and player. He’s hoping this experience will hold him in good stead.
“They’ve been good clubs to be involved with and they are some of the biggest clubs in the area,” he said.
“I’m really happy to take on this role. It’ll be a learning curve and something I want to grab hold of.”
Addison has been appointed for one season and his performance will be reviewed at the end of the season with the option of an additional two years.
Addison’s first task is trying to re-sign key players for next year.
“The first thing is to get all the main guys back. Last year we had a bit of interest, so hopefully we’ll have a good showing at tryouts.”
Addison said they were also talking to some former players about possibly coming back, while some of their youth league players could make the step up.
The Jets finished fifth in their pool this year.
“We didn’t finish where we would have liked this year, but we weren’t too far off it,” Addison said.
“It’s about getting things running. I’m lucky I’ve got relationships with the players already.”
Jets’ coaching director Kennedy Kereama said Addison’s appointment slotted in well with the club’s program.
“You see in many other sports the assistant coach is often promoted to head coach and for us this continuity is important.”
“He shares in our vision for the men’s program and wants to build strong links between our juniors and the senior men’s team.
“For us it made sense to work with a coach who is new in his coaching journey and help him develop over a three-year period than have to re-advertise each year.”
