THE Nor-West Jets are on the lookout for a new coach after Garry Bull secured an opportunity he couldn’t refuse for next season.
Bull has signed a two-year deal to take over as coach of AFL Sydney Premier League grand finalist Balmain, a promotion of two grades and a golden chance to take charge of a major premiership fancy at the highest level in Sydney football.
The Dockers lost this year’s grand final to the East Coast Eagles (now Sydney Hills) under the tutelage of Sydney Swans 2005 AFL premiership player Nic Fosdike, but will start warm flag favourites next season with the Eagles and third placed Sydney University having been promoted to the North East Australian Football League.
Bull will work alongside classy midfielder Craig White, who has spent the past two seasons as captain of WAFL club South Fremantle.
However, despite the lure of coaching in the Premier League, Bull said it was an agonising decision to leave the Jets after two years of a three year agreement.
“From an opportunity basis, the chance to coach a senior side at a successful club was something I couldn’t knock back,” he said.
“But the decision was a very hard one and it was a process that took more than six weeks.
“I had to consider a lot of different things, the distance to Balmain was a major thing, another was I hadn’t finished what I started at the Jets – I think we needed two more years to really achieve what I wanted to achieve, and leaving such a good bunch of guys was really hard.
“I’m still going to be a sponsor (with La Escandella Tiles) and as someone who lives locally I will take every opportunity to get down and watch the guys whenever I can.”
Bull said he was happy with what the Jets had achieved in the past two years with third and sixth placed finishes, but it is off the field where the most strides have been made.
“We’re in a good financial position and the club is a lot more professional with a lot more commitment from the players,” he said.
“The culture is some we’ve worked hard on and it’s something the club needs to keep working hard on.”
On Nor-West’s 2011 season, which saw the team slide from a preliminary final appearance to miss the finals, Bull said it was a frustrating year where little went right on the field, with the inability to field a settled team through injuries and work commitments proving critical.
However, there were positives, with a number of talented youngsters receiving plenty of game time and experience that will stand them in good stead.
“We definitely had the talent, but we consistently had 10-12 unavailable every week, which really put a lot of pressure on our depth,” he said.
“Having said that, to get to three rounds out and still be in finals contention with the teams we had showed we had very good depth.
“Being able to recruit a lot of new guys, which allowed us to be competitive with 10-12 guys out was a good sign, while youth we brought through was massive, most of our onballers were under 21 at the end of the year, which was great.
“We just need more consistency on player numbers – to have the same 22 playing week in week out; we’ve got the guys there, we just need them on paddock on game day.”
Bull was hard at work on the recruiting front for the Jets, and the club is well advanced in discussions with several quality players for next season, with Victoria-bound captain Jarod Thomson (Beechworth) the only confirmed departure.
“I’d just like to thank all the guys, its been an enjoyable two years and I hope they continue to commit to training they way they have over the past two years,” he said.
Nor-West president Glenn Whitney said Bull’s departure would be felt more than just on the field, but he was confident the processes are in place to keep improving.
“Apart from being the coach, he was also integral part of cultural composition of the club,” he said.
“He’s introduced more players and new players, to the club and the game and as a recruiter he’s been very good.
“He’s been an integral part of the committee with meetings and decision making – it’s more than losing a coach, it’s losing a head of coaching and a degree of guidance on where we’re heading and what we need to get to the next level.
“It will definitely result in a loss of some direction, cohesion and drive to make it happen, but there are adequate numbers of strong dedicated people who will carry on Garry’s work and keep taking us forward.
“Negotiations are well underway to secure the services of a senior grade coach and head of coaching and we hope to have it resolved in the next 7-10 days.”
PRE-SEASON TRAINING IS UNDERWAY AT BENSONS LANE 3 AT 6.15pm FOR A 6.30PM START EACH WEDNESDAY NIGHT UNTIL CHRISTMAS.
You’ve described this as an offer you couldn’t refuse?
From oppoerrtunitrt basis, theoppr to coach prem side at a successful club.
How hard was it to make the decision to leave, what sort of processes went through your head?
Dec veret hard over six weeks, cont lots of differ things, distance to Bal, was a major thing,s not fini what started at jets, still two more years to really achie what wanted to achie and woiuld have seen that in, leaving a good bunch of guys.
What sort of shape do you feel you’re leaving the club in?
It’s a lot better, we’re in a good ifn pos and a lot more prof with a lot more comm. From the players. The culture is some we’ve worked hard on and it’s somerthingf we need to keep working hard on.
We’re still likely to see you around the club next year?
As still a sponsor and someone who lives locally will take ever oport to get down and watch the guys.
On this year -
How would you sum up the 2011 season for the Nor-West Jets?
Frutstrating, def had the talent, but consistently 10-12 unavi every week through raaf and army commit ereally piut pressur on the depth. Have said that, to get three rounds out and strill in finals gunt with teams we had showed we had very good depth.
What went right?
I don’;t think a lot went right, but I don’t think a lot went wrong either. Right being able to recruit new guys, which allowed us to be competitive with 10-12 guys out. Youth we brought threoughh was massive, with most onballers under 21 was great.
What went wrong?
It was just a numbers thing this year I thing, other than one game we had an average of six out ofd starting line up and played really good footy with that sort of quality out.
What does the club need on the field to take the next step back into the finals?
More consistency on player numbers, the same 22 playing week in week out. Got guys there just need them on paddock on game day.
Has there been any ground made as yet with regards to recruiting that you can say?
Recruiting looks good, picked up more than lost, but also very talented footballers. We’ll lose Bondi and Thomo – two big losses but that’s about it so far.
The club has had two teams in the AFL 9s at Blacktown – what advantages do you think we can get out of this?
From a skill base it will give massive advangtage, fitness, keep guys together and build spirit and culture at the club.
Losing Bully is a major blow for the club at this stage after just two years?
Absolutely, apart from coach, also integral part of cultural compo of club,. Move to intro more player,s nbew platyers ,recrtuiter very good. Inte part of comm. Meeting and decision. More than losing coach, head of coach and degree of guidance of where heading and what we need to get to the next level.
He’s obviously been a key part of our development, how will this affect things?
Def key of dev, lose at this stage will result in loss ofd some direc, cohes and drive to make it happen, but in cons there are adeq snumber os strong deciated people who will carry on garry’s work and keep taking us forward.
What processes do we have in place for a replacement?
Until a week ago we were of opinion we were moving int 2012 with garry as senior coach and gener we all agree we didn’t have to do a lot of work in that area bec it was set. Negotiations are well underway to secure the services of a senior grade coach and head of coaching. We hope to have it resovled in the next 7-10 days.
Last Modified on 28/11/2011 23:34