AFTER weeks of conjecture surrounding his future at Glenrowan, fourtime premiership coach Nigel Robinson has signed on to lead the Kelly Tigers for a sixth straight season in 2018.
Robinson had been tempted to return to his former club, Queenscliff, in the Bellarine league, but said the desire to help ensure Glenrowan’s continued prosperity was a responsibility he could not ignore.
“It was a tough decision for me,” Robinson said.
“I can’t keep coaching forever – my work has been getting more full on over the years and taking up more of my time.
“But in the end it just comes down to doing what is best for Glenrowan as a club.
“This year we were so focused on winning that historic fourth flag that we didn’t really look to next year and plan any transition.
“I couldn’t leave the club in a position where things could potentially go downhill, so now we start to put more of a focus on doing those things that will make sure we are sustainable and successful for the long term.”
While Nigel’s younger brother Matt will step back into an assistant coaching role, former club president Joe Bedendo will take up the slack as Robinson’s senior co-coach.
“One of the things that we wanted to do for next year is to have a lot more people involved in terms of coaching and leading the club,” Robinson said.
“Matt will still be doing all the things he was doing before, but it is great to get Joe on board as a co-coach.
“He knows the club, but he has also gone away and coached junior league and been involved at Rovers.
“He has contact with a lot of young players who he can look at recruiting to Glenrowan – that’s something that I can’t do because I just don’t have those contacts.
“Joe is going to bring a lot to the club.”
While off-field developments will be on the agenda in 2018, Robinson said the Tigers would still be right in the mix to win a fifth straight premiership.
“The bulk of the players are back on board, and we are looking at recruiting some young, local talent into the team,” he said.
“We are looking to put a foundation in place that will hold up for years to come, but we are also looking to win another premiership.
“Every time we step foot on the field we are going to be aiming to win, and we will have a side that is capable of doing that.
“We will get around the playing list in the next few weeks and sort it all out, but there is every chance we could be even stronger next year.”
Bedendo, meanwhile, is looking forward to getting back to Glenrowan and being part of the club’s future.
“After coaching junior league, coaching seniors has been something I have wanted to try,” Bedendo said.
“I was on the bench at Glenrowan when Steve Hickey and John Paola were coaching, so I do have some experience there.
“For me it is just as much about the off field aspect.
“When the McPhails came in five years ago no one would have believed what they would achieve, and I want to see that momentum continue.
“We’ve got renovations planned for the facilities that will mean we can start to really add to the club element – doing meals on Thursday nights and having the footballers and netballers all getting involved.
“People have bagged out Glenrowan saying it is a great team but not a great club, and we want to change that perception and make people realise that this is a great club to be a part of.”
By - Scott Anderson.
www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
ONE MORE YEAR: Nigel Robinson will coach Glenrowan for a sixth consecutive season in 2018. PHOTO: Emma Hillier