Former Williamstown coach Peter German has taken the reigns at Piranha Park this season and has given a tough assignment as the club fights standalone for the first time since 2001, with one of the youngest squads in the VFL.
German, has endured a prolific career in Australian Rules football as a player and a coach. Now at age 49, he returns to the club he supported as a child to take on arguably the most difficult challenge of his career.
It’s been a football-filled life for German, who grew up around the game religiously.
“I used to come down every Sunday to watch Coburg play.” German enthused.
The club’s blood runs deep in the German’s body. His grandfather played in a premiership team in the 1930s, and German says the foundation for his football career started there.
“I still remember my grandfather buying me a new pair of footy boots” He reminisced.
German spoke with a tone of fondness for the club and the memories that were created at in the 1970s that take him back to his childhood.
He recalled his junior career, in which he stated at Under 11s level he would be training and playing four days a week for three different teams.
German wasn’t just a footballer. At age 11, he won the state title for the 60-metre hurdles.
“Sport basically ran my life” he stated.
His passion became a dream, however just one year later he developed Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, a condition which creates a lump under an adolescent’s knees. This condition kept German out of sport for 6 months.
“It was like someone had cut my legs off” he remembered.
He didn’t allow for his dream to be deterred. Consistent football and hard work paid off for German who at age 15, moved on from Oak Park to join North Melbourne’s under 19s team.
It wasn’t until 1984, when Peter German made his mark on professional football. German, missed the start of the season due to injury, but played his way into form into the under 19s team. His form led him to a reserves call-up, and after 8 more games in the 2’s, German was named for the senior side.
“My head was spinning at the time” He beamed.
But a reality check soon followed for German, who was dropped two weeks later when the Kangaroos made the finals.
He spoke about the lessons he learnt, and how he’s passed it on to his playing group.
“It’s tough. Sometimes the great players, don’t have that understanding of being dropped or what its like to hold onto your spot each week.”
“Even at this level, the pressure to perform consistently is massive. I’m just trying to teach the players everything to be able to play consistently, including how to be able to handle the tough times mentally” he informed.
German will be looking to pass on his wealth of experience as an assistant coach with Hawthorn and West Coast to teach the young squad about the rigours of senior level football. Unlike his squad last year at Williamstown, this year’s Coburg list does not have a player who has played a senior game at AFL level.
Despite this adversity, German isn’t concerned about the group.
“The endeavour and the willingness to learn that I’ve seen from the players is fantastic” He remarked.
“I’m a big part of building character. Football is a man’s game. It’s dog-eat-dog. They have to be able to understand the rigours that come with it. It’s on their own shoulders.”
”They don’t need to be stars, just to become a good solid contributor. A lot of great VFL sides, have just had a solid dozen to 15 players that are just real honest contributors.” He informed.
He also talked about the players he admired growing up, stating their toughness and commitment to the ball is where he teaches from. Amongst former Coburg coach Alex Jesaulenko, was Carlton hard men Barry Armstrong and Trevor Keogh.
“It’s not going to be instant success” he warned; but German was reassuring that the young side’s mentality can get them through games this year.
Coburg supporters have every right to be passionate about games this season. When they gaze up to the coaches’ box they’ll see stability, leadership and experience – exactly what these young lions need.
Jason De Vincentis
Last Modified on 11/04/2014 10:45