A SOLO coach will oversee five-time reigning Central Murray Football Netball League premiers, Kerang for the first time in three seasons.
Travis Matheson – who worked alongside Troy Coates to guide the Blues to premiership success in the past two seasons – will oversee the role of securing a potential sixth consecutive flag for the club in 2017.
It will be the first time the midfield/forward – who has played eight seasons with the Blues since playing with the Bendigo Pioneers’ TAC Cup side in 2007 and Bendigo Football League side, Eaglehawk in 2011 – will have sole duties with the club after acting as an assistant under Coates in 2013 and 2014 and as co-coach with his good friend in 2015 and 2016.
“Troy and I are good mates and played most of our footy together, so I hope to build on the work we’ve done during the past two years,” Matheson said.
The role came about after Coates accepted the head coaching position for Northern Territory Football League Premier League side, Nightcliff’s 2016/17 campaign – meaning he will be unavailable for club roles from now to March.
Matheson has developed a wealth of experience during the past five seasons, working alongside the Bendigo Gold coaching team when the club was in the Victorian Football League, and spent this year as a midfield coach for the Pioneers’ under 16 side and co-coach of the Pioneers’ main team at the V/Line Club.
“The role with the Pioneers has taught me about how important team structures are, so I hope to bring that elite experience back to Kerang,” he said.
Jesse Clark will continue in his role as an assistant coach, whilst premiership midfielder and Matheson’s co-coach at the V/Line Cup, Mark Lloyd will leave the club after accepting an offer to coach Moama in the Murray Football League in 2017.
“At this point Mark is the only player that has confirmed he is leaving, but the club has received a really positive response from the core group of players about playing again next year,” Matheson said.
“We may need to bring one or two guys in to fill the holes if any players retire, but when you look at the fact our Colts finished on top of the ladder for the past two seasons and the reserves made the grand final this year, there is quite a bit of talent in the club.”
