At an AFL Victoria Awards Night on Friday 9 November at the MCG in front of 300 guests, Oakleigh District senior coach Steve Wright was named Victorian Senior Coach of the Year, claiming the Gerard Fitzgerald Trophy.
Beating out a talented field in the 25th annual Victorian Australian Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Awards, Wright was introduced to the packed room with the following decription:
- Stephen has coached successfully at local and the elite level of the game over the past 20 years.
- He has a very good work ethic – designing the fitness needs, game requirements and skill development for each player – which is reflected in his own preparation for coaching.
- Stephen works with individual players to continue to develop their skills and understanding of game plan requirements.
This award is a tremendous honour for Steve and those who have helped him along the way, and the SFL wholeheartedly congratulates Steve on winning this most prestigious award.
The following article (written by Leader Newspapers' Paul Amy) ran in Leader Newspaper in October, 2011:
Wright at home at Districts club
By Paul Amy - Leader Newspapers
Just as he suspected it would, Steve Wright's football career has returned to its starting point.
Wright began playing at Oakleigh District at age six, filling in when the under-13 team was short.
Skilled and stout-hearted, he went on to rove for South Melbourne and the Sydney Swans in 246 games.
Wright, 50, is back at Districts as senior coach.
"Back home," he said, reflecting on a long association with the club.
"I always thought I'd come back at some stage. I reckon I've had a phone call from Steve Laffan for the past 20 years asking me back."
"Oakleigh District gave me my first opportunity. You always like to give something back."
Wright's family ties with Oakleigh District are Superman-strong.
His father, John, is a life member. Wife Kerrie's father, Peter Burns, and grandfather, Jack Hogan, are also life members and former presidents. Hogan was a founding member.
Wright grew up in Greta St, a torpedo kick from the ground, and at 17 he played in Districts' 1978 losing grand final team. It was his last appearance for the club: he headed to South Melbourne the following year, getting a senior debut at age 18.
News the club was relocating to Sydney anguished him (the Herald Sun photographic archive has an image of him breaking down in the Lakeside Oval carpark). But he made the move and was an outstanding contributor as the Swans, fired by Geoff Edelsten's money, surged up the ladder.
Coaching followed. It took Wright to Clarence in Tasmania, Central Districts in the SANFL, the NSW/ACT Rams, Western Creek and North Ballarat in the VFL. But he returned to Oakleigh District whenever he could, and always kept an eye on the results.
In 2008, Wright popped up in the Southern League at Highett. Last year, he coached the SFL interleague team and this year he had an assistant's role at Districts under Grant Pitts.
Although Wright's roots run deep at the Princes Highway Reserve, he wasn't given the coaching job on a platter.
"It was advertised and I applied," he said. "I went through the process and got it that way. It was all done properly."
Districts had 12 wins and six losses in 2011, falling to Bentleigh in the first semi-final.
The club hasn't won a premiership since 1958 (Peter Burns played in the team).
"Well, they've had a few goes at it," Wright said.
"We'd love to fix that up but they're not easy to win. It takes a lot of hard work."
Wright is ready to roll his sleeves up.
Last Modified on 29/11/2012 13:37