Victorian Women’s Football League five time premiership coach Peta Searle has ben appointed to an assistant coaches role at Port Melbourne. After success with the Darebin Falcons in the Victorian Women’s Football League, Searle will join the reigning Peter Jackson VFL premiers as a defensive line coach in season 2012.
“I was really excited and overjoyed,” Searle said regarding her appointment earlier this week.
“The opportunity to be at that level, and also to work with Gary (Ayres) - who is an amazing man and coach himself – is an opportunity to learn and develop.
“This has been the highest opportunity I have had. I just really want to do a good job, and be the best coach I can, and be the best person as a coach at Port Melbourne as I can be and we will see how things go.”
Searle is no stranger to premiership success, but she acknowledges how quickly things can change and how you need to be armed with the right mindset.
“ At the end of the day each year is a new year, so you have to approach it that way. With the VFL people come and go, so 2012 will be a whole new challenge,” Searle said.
“At Darebin we went three years without losing a game, but you never look at that moving forward, each week is different, and you always have things to work on.
“That is the bottom line, and if you keep approaching it that way, you keep the players up, but you also keep level headed and can keep performing at a high level.”
For Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres, the appointment of Searle completed his off field coaching team for 2012, and he was more than happy with the candidates.
“I think it is very positive for the Port Melbourne FC, obviously with someone’s expertise and skill set you certainly want to have them working with you.
“Her (Searle) credentials are excellent; she has been successful in her own right, as not only a player but as a coach with five premierships.
“She has an excellent handle on football and doing the coaching courses has obviously broadened her knowledge through level two and three,” Ayres said.
“With her credentials why wouldn’t you want to get someone who is keen and enthusiastic and she is very much aware this is a stepping stone for her, and all you want to be able to do in life is give someone an opportunity, and that is what Peta has got, so I am sure she will do a very good job.”
Searle will form part of a new coaching team at Port Melbourne, with a number of off season departures from the premiership panel with Andrew Mirhams heading to Williamstown, and John Edgar stepping down from his position.
“It will be very very hard to replicate what we did last year, but I am hoping we can retain the nucleus of what we have had from previous years,” Ayres said.
“Steven Mead has stepped up to senior assistant, and moves to midfield coach, Peta in defence and Adam Skrobalak (from East Geelong) is forward line coach.
“Once again new ideas, new challenges and the coaching staff always need to be challenged.”
One aspect of Searle’s coaching background that Ayres noted was her involvement recently with the Western Jets in the TAC Cup. In 2011 she was assistant coach of the Jets under 16 Brad Johnson Squad and operated the team board for Western Jets under 18 coach Steve Kretiuk from the bench. Western Jets Region Manager Shane Sexton believes she was able to learn a lot in her short time at the club.
“In Peta’s 12 months with the Western Jets she has gained invaluable experience from Ray Stevens, coach of the Brad Johnson Squad and also Steven Kretiuk, coach of the TAC Cup Western Jets team.
“During her time at the Western Jets Peta has proven to be a very capable coach. Her ability to conduct training sessions, her knowledge of the game, ability to build a rapport with players and staff and communication skills all have been first class,” Sexton said.
“The Western Jets congratulate and wish Peta the very best on her appointment at Port Melbourne.”
Searle started her new role with Port Melbourne on Wednesday night.
TEAC NO LONGER
The long term partnership between Port Melbourne FC and TEAC will not continue in season 2012. The club announced this week that both parties have mutually agreed to end the arrangement which was established in 1988.
After claiming the clubs 16th senior premiership, Port Melbourne will now seek a new sponsorship partner/s for the 2012 Peter Jackson VFL season. Not only will the clubs be looking to extend their currently winning streak of 21 games, but they will also compete in the second year of the Foxtel Cup, along with fellow top three VFL finishers Williamstown and Werribee.
Last Modified on 02/12/2011 15:09